Artwork
A brook with a high bank
A brook with a high bank is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist John Constable. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A brook with a high bank is the subject of this 1834 watercolour by John Constable, characterized by a rugged landscape and loose brushwork.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a brook cutting through a steep, tree-lined bank, with a few figures walking along a path in the distance, set against a backdrop of earthy tones and a reflected sky.
Technique & Style
The watercolour features quick, expressive brushstrokes that convey a sense of natural spontaneity, with visible texture and unrefined detail, evoking a sense of immediacy and outdoor observation.
History & Provenance
The painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1835 alongside *The Valley Farm*, a year that also saw Constable travel to Arundel and deliver lectures in Worcester.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
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Study from Nature
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Untitled
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A thatched cottage and two figures
Two sketches on one sheet: a countryman walking, and a group of people beside two donkeys.
Cottages on a high bank