File:Life and letters of John Constable, R. A (1896) (14799392863).jpg

Identifier: lifelettersofjoh00lesl (find matches)
Title: Life and letters of John Constable, R. A
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Leslie, Charles Robert, 1794-1859
Subjects: Contable, John, 1776-1837 Artists
Publisher: London : Chapman and Hall
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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by a close observation ofnature, he discovers qualities existing in her which have neverbeen portrayed before, and thus forms a style which is original.The results of the one mode, as they repeat that with which theeye is already familiar, are soon recognised and estimated, whilethe advances of the artist in a new path must necessarily be slow,for few are able to judge of that which deviates from the usualcourse, or are qualified to appreciate original studies. In the year 1814, when a collection of pictures by Wilson,Hogarth, and Gainsborough was exhibited at the British Gallery,in the Preface to the Catalogue it was said, The merit ofWilsons works is now justly appreciated ; and we may hope that,since the period of his decease, the love and knowledge of arthave been so much diffused through the country that theexertion of such talents may never again remain unrewardedduring the lifetime of liim who may possess them. Who wouldnot say Amen to tliis? And yet, long after it was penned,
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-I< 1829) DAVID LUCAS. 223 Constable was as much neglected as Wilson had been, and sowill it again happen with genius equally original and natural inlandscape, until that branch of the art shall be better under-stood with reference to nature than it is by our dispensers offame. In one of Constables sketch-books there is a draught of aletter to Mr. Fisher, in which he says, I know not if the land-scapes I now offer to your notice will add to the esteem in whichyou have always been so kind as to hold me as a painter; Ishall dedicate them to you, relying on that affection which youhave invariably extended to me under every circumstance.In another part of this memorandum he mentions Mr. Lucas,of whom he says, His great urbanity and integrity are onlyequalled by his skill as an engraver; and the scenes now trans-mitted by his hand are such as I have ever preferred. For themost part, they are those with which I have the strongestassociations—those of my earliest years, when in the chee

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