Artwork
A bridge over a stream, with a cottage behind
A bridge over a stream, with a cottage behind is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist John Constable. It dates from 1829 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A watercolour landscape by John Constable, created in 1829, featuring a small bridge, cottage, and surrounding trees.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a serene rural setting, with a bridge spanning a narrow stream and a cottage positioned behind it, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
The watercolour showcases Constable's characteristic use of expressive brushstrokes and selective colour application, with areas of the paper left blank to convey a sense of atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The work dates to a period when Constable was preparing his English Landscape Scenery series and had recently been elected to the Royal Academy.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
Landscape with river and mountains
'From the Mill, Chilham'
Milford Bridge, with a distant view of Salisbury
The Pond, Ditchling
A cottage and water-mill at Bignor
A cottage with a red-tiled roof, by a wood
Farmhouse behind Trees
Wilsford, Lincolnshire
Landscape with trees and water
Landscape with road in flat country
In Danny Park, near Hassocks, Sussex
A bridge over the Stour