Artwork
Autumnal Sun Set
Autumnal Sun Set is a print by John Constable. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Autumnal Sun Set is a print by John Constable. It's a landscape work.
This print is part of a series of mezzotints based on Constable's oil sketches and paintings. The series was published in several parts between 1830 and 1832.
You can learn more about the artist's techniques and style by looking up the work of artist: Constable, John (RA).
Overview
Autumnal Sun Set is a landscape print created by John Constable as part of his extensive mezzotint series that reproduced his earlier oil sketches and paintings. The image captures an English countryside scene at dusk, emphasizing the tonal shifts of light and shadow that characterize Constable’s vision of nature.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a tranquil rural setting bathed in the warm glow of a setting sun, illustrating Constable’s interest in portraying the atmospheric effects of evening light. By focusing on the interplay of illumination and shade, the work reflects his belief that chiaroscuro reveals the essential character of the English landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed in mezzotint, the print translates the painterly qualities of Constable’s original sketches into a tonal medium that excels at rendering subtle gradations of dark and light. The method, employed by engraver David Lucas under Constable’s direction, allowed the artist to preserve the softness of his brushwork while emphasizing the dramatic contrasts of the scene.
History & Provenance
The mezzotint series, titled English Landscape, was issued in six parts between June 1830 and July 1832, with a revised second edition appearing in 1833. After Constable’s death in 1837, additional re‑issues and new plates were produced, extending the series’ circulation beyond the artist’s lifetime.
Context
Constable’s mezzotint project drew on the landscape traditions of Claude Lorrain and J.M.W. Turner, positioning his own work within a lineage of British and continental landscape art. By publishing these prints, he aimed to broaden public appreciation of England’s scenery and to articulate the theoretical underpinnings of his artistic practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
