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Arundel Castle, West Sussex
John Constable·c. 1807
Historical Context
This view of Arundel Castle from around 1807 records the medieval fortress in its West Sussex landscape setting. While not his primary territory, Constable painted castles and historical architecture when they formed natural parts of the landscape he was observing. Constable's technique of working with rapid, spontaneous brushwork to capture transient natural effects was revolutionary; he made full-scale oil sketches for his large exhibition paintings, treating the sketch as a vehicle for direct
Technical Analysis
Constable renders the castle within its landscape context, treating it as an element of the natural scene rather than an isolated architectural study, with characteristic attention to atmospheric light.
Look Closer
- ◆Look at Arundel Castle rising above the Arun valley — the great West Sussex fortress on its raised ground visible against the rolling South Downs behind it.
- ◆Notice how Constable treats the castle as part of the natural landscape rather than as an isolated architectural subject — the medieval building embedded in its Sussex setting rather than presented against a neutral background.
- ◆Observe the Arun valley setting — the specific topography of the castle's location, the river valley below and the downs above creating a distinctive landscape character.
- ◆Find the quality of the Sussex light — the specific atmospheric character of West Sussex that Constable found when visiting this part of England beyond his usual Suffolk and Hampstead territories.
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