Artwork
AUTUMNAL SUN SET
AUTUMNAL SUN SET is a print by the Romanticist artist John Constable. It dates from 1831 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It’s part of his major series *English Landscape*, made with mezzotint by David Lucas.
John Constable’s *Autumnal Sun Set* is a 1831 print in Romanticism’s landscape style. It’s part of his major series *English Landscape*, made with mezzotint by David Lucas. Constable picked these scenes to show off England’s countryside.
The series was big—22 prints total, released in parts from 1830 to 1832. He even tweaked it after the first print run to make it better.
If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
Autumnal Sun Set is a print from John Constable's English Landscape series, a collection of 22 mezzotints created by David Lucas between 1830 and 1832.
Subject & Meaning
The series showcases English scenery, with Constable selecting scenes of personal and historical significance to highlight the role of light and shadow in landscape.
Technique & Style
The prints, including Autumnal Sun Set, were executed in mezzotint, a technique that allows for nuanced chiaroscuro, reflecting Constable's emphasis on the interplay of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
Constable oversaw the publication of English Landscape during his lifetime, revising the series in 1833, and it continued to be reprinted and expanded after his death in 1837.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
