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Half-Length Portrait of a Cleric, by John Constable, graphite, 1806

Half-Length Portrait of a Cleric

John Constable

1806

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Dominant colour

Overview

Half-Length Portrait of a Cleric is a 1806 graphite by John Constable, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?
John Constable
When & what style?
1806 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?
National Gallery of Art

About this work

This portrait is a sketch of a man, likely a cleric, in a simple, dark robe. The subject's face is the focus, with his body and clothing sketched in less detail. The sketch is done in graphite on tan paper, giving it a warm, earthy tone. The artist's use of shading and texture adds depth to the image. The Romantic movement is characterized by its emphasis on emotion and individualism, and this sketch reflects that focus. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's style and technique, you might want to look into the work of Constable, John (RA).

About the artist

Portrait of John Constable
Artist

John Constable

John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.

See the richer artist page

More by John Constable

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