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The Revd Dr James Andrew
John Constable·1818
Historical Context
This portrait of the Reverend Dr. James Andrew from 1818 is one of Constable's portrait commissions, undertaken to supplement the uncertain income from his landscape paintings. He regarded such work as a necessity rather than a calling. 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 natural truth.
Technical Analysis
The portrait demonstrates Constable's competent handling of figure painting, with straightforward lighting and composition serving the primary purpose of likeness and character.
Look Closer
- ◆Look at the sitter's face — Constable renders the Reverend Dr. Andrew's features with the direct observation he brought to portrait subjects, the face treated with honest attention.
- ◆Notice the formal clerical costume — the professional dress rendered with the competence that Constable brought to portrait commissions even when his preference was for landscape.
- ◆Observe the background treatment — Constable typically kept portrait backgrounds simple and atmospheric, the background serving the face rather than competing with it.
- ◆Find the direct, honest quality of the portrait — Constable's portrait subjects have an unidealized directness that reflects his same commitment to truth that animated his landscape painting.
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