Study of Cirrus Clouds

This study of cirrus clouds from around 1822 is among the most delicate and ethereal of Constable's sky studies. High-altitude cirrus clouds, formed of ice crystals, create distinctive wispy streaks across the upper atmosphere. Constable's ability to distinguish and accurately render different cloud types demonstrates his engagement with contemporary meteorological science, particularly Luke Howard's cloud classification system published in 1803.

Thin, feathery brushstrokes capture the characteristic wispy texture of cirrus clouds against a deep blue sky. The paint is applied more thinly than in his cumulus studies, with delicate, elongated marks that mirror the clouds' actual formation.

This cirrus cloud study from about 1822 is in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Part of Constable's systematic sky-study campaign, it documents a specific cloud type with scientific precision. The small oil has been stabilized. The delicate atmospheric effects are well-preserved. Constable was influenced by Luke Howard's cloud classification system, and his studies can be correlated with Howard's categories.