A HEATH was painted by John Constable in 1855.

Where can I see A HEATH?

A HEATH is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A HEATH?

A HEATH is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

A HEATH

John Constable , 1855

A HEATH is a print by the Impressionist artist John Constable. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

A Heath is a mezzotint print taken from John Constable’s ambitious series Various Subjects of English Landscape. Produced in the early 1830s, the image presents a tranquil stretch of heathland rendered in the subtle tonal range characteristic of the medium. The work is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts an open heath, a landscape type that Constable associated with the unspoiled character of the English countryside. By selecting this scene, he aimed to illustrate the natural play of light and shadow, emphasizing the atmospheric effects that underlie his broader theory of landscape as a study of chiaroscuro.

Technique & Style

Executed in mezzotint by David Lucas, the print relies on a finely graded tonal surface achieved through a series of scrapes and burnishes on a copper plate. The method allows for deep, velvety blacks and delicate gradations, mirroring the atmospheric softness of Constable’s oil sketches while preserving the immediacy of his brushwork.

History & Provenance

Constable supervised the creation of the series between 1830 and 1832, overseeing Lucas’s work and selecting the subjects from his own sketches, paintings, and occasional watercolours. A second edition appeared in 1833; after Constable’s death in 1837, the plates continued to be re‑issued and further completed by Lucas, extending the series’ circulation.

Context

The series was conceived as a visual argument for the value of English scenery, drawing on the landscape traditions of Claude Lorrain and J.M.W. Turner. By translating his painted visions into mezzotint, Constable sought to reach a broader audience and to cement his reputation as a chronicler of the nation’s natural heritage.