John Constable study morning on Wednesday 27th May 2026

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of the quintessentially English landscapist John Constable. Enormously popular and endlessly reproduced, his paintings today are familiar - perhaps over familiar. But his modern reputation masks a radical, experimental artist who pushed the boundaries of art of his time. The lectures will examine Constable’s career and propose five reasons why he should be considered revolutionary and Britain’s greatest landscape painter.

Meeting place - ​​​Duke Street Church, Richmond TW9 1DH.

Meeting date - Wednesday 18th February 2026

Meeting time - Please be there from 9.30am in time for a 10am start.

09.30 Registration

10.00 - 11.00 Our lectures begin

11.00 - 11.30 Break. Coffee and biscuits will be served.

11.30 - 12.45 Second lecture

The cost is £23. You will be emailed a ticket but you do not need to show it on arrival as we will have a list of names. You are most welcome to invite friends and family to buy a ticket.

If you have any questions please contact Val Williams at [email protected]; Mobile 07983 682368 or Tel 020 8546 4050.

Our lecturer - Arts Society lecturer Alan Read has a masters and first-class degree in History of Art from Birkbeck College, University of London. He is a gallery guide at Tate Britain and regularly lectures at both London Tates. For twenty years he was a gallery guide and lecturer at the National Portrait Gallery and the Dulwich Picture Gallery. He also works as a London Blue Badge Guide.

John Constable

John Constable (1776-1837) was a leading figure in English Romantic painting, renowned for his revolutionary landscapes that celebrated the Suffolk countryside of his childhood. His profound connection to his native environment, coupled with his innovative techniques, established him as a pivotal artist in the history of landscape painting.

Born in East Bergholt, Suffolk, Constable's father was a prosperous corn merchant. This upbringing afforded him an intimate knowledge and deep affection for the rural life and landscapes of the Stour Valley, an area that would become the primary subject of his art and is now famously known as "Constable Country." He resisted his father's initial wish for him to enter the family business, instead pursuing a career in art, enrolling in the Royal Academy Schools in London in 1799.

John Constable's legacy is that of an artist who fundamentally altered the way landscape was perceived and painted. His dedication to capturing the beauty of the everyday world and his innovative techniques have secured his place as one of Britain's greatest artists. His paintings continue to be cherished for their evocative power and their timeless celebration of the English countryside.

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