Ruskin Has It In For Turner

Ruskin Has It In For Turner

Unlike Turner, Constable has to wait years before he is elected to the Royal Academy, 52 years old to be precise.  His critics view him as too parochial, only painting his local Sussex landscapes and villages compared to Turner who addresses historical events, technological advances and foreign climes.

This doesn't stop Constable describing Turner's work as “ just steam and light” and Turner to

retaliate. "I am the great lion of the day

Family loving Constable ( married to a Vicar's daughter and seven children) becomes a teeny bit
despondent now and then with a lack of English fans telling his biographer a chap named Varley
he is no artist’.

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Art critic Ruskin “puts the boot" in too, saying Constable could not draw and his work lacks the
feeling and accuracy of the natural world, Constable misses “the majesty of storm and the loveliness
of calm weather” for Ruskin calling his work a “ great coat of weather “ with no pleasure in sunbeams
piercing through clouds, or foliage  shaken by the wind, or in light itself. 

Ruskin was looking for inspiration from higher sources 

Where’s God’s voice ? religious Ruskin asks, 

In Ruskins world, God isn't talking to Constable! 

The implication is that Constable is wooden!!, his work imitation! and the viewer likely to ask “
Where is it ?” as opposed to “What is it?”

Constables  blobs  of colour skilfully daubed on the canvas and his speckled whites of light are more
imitation than truth for Ruskin..

But, surprise, surprise! , God is speaking to Ruskin's favourite Turner!,  To whom he attributes “a
profound knowledge of the local and particular truths of natural form, tone, colour, space, skies, earth,
water, vegetation and to cut it short, nature itself.” Personally I disagree but then my artistic bent is “
truth to material’ and to nature, yes, if we are talking about human nature!

However Constable is loved by others, including the late Lucien Freud who believes there is “ truth
to nature “ in Constables work ,whilst Vincent Van Gogh writes to his brother Theo, that in Constable

he has found a kindred spirit for clouds and trees and the sublime. Constables “ The Cornfield” one
of his favourites  #londonartscene . #arthistory #historyofartdaily