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Branch Hill Pond, Hampstead
John Constable, 1828
John Constable rented a summerhouse in Hampstead, on the edge of London, from 1819 to 1826, and used it as a base for painting the surrounding heath. This view of Branch Hill Pond is dated 1828.
The Cleveland Museum of Art describes Constable as an amateur meteorologist, happiest when he was studying clouds, weather and natural light. In this painting the dark rain clouds take up more of the picture than the labourers in the foreground, who are kept at a distance. Constable believed that an accurate record of these changing effects could convey the vitality and magnificence of the English countryside.
The canvas is about 61 by 78 centimetres, without its frame. Notice how little of it is given over to the land. Most of the drama is above the horizon.
From the museum record
| Artist | John Constable |
|---|---|
| Date | 1828 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Size | Unframed: 60.6 x 78.1 cm |
| Museum | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund |
| Accession number | 1972.48 |
| Licence | Open Access (CC0) |
Source: The Cleveland Museum of Art collection record. Facts such as dates, sizes and credit lines come from that record. The write-up above was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the museum record and standard references. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
