Artwork
Sty Head Tarn, Borrowdale
Sty Head Tarn, Borrowdale is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist John Constable. It dates from 12 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
John Constable’s watercolour of Sty Head Tarn captures a tranquil lake set within the rugged hills of Borrowdale. Executed in 1806 during the artist’s autumn sojourn in the Lake District, the work combines delicate washes with precise pencil work, and was shown at that year’s Royal Academy exhibition.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a quiet lakeside scene framed by brown‑green mountains, with a solitary figure perched on a rock and looking out over the water. The placement of the figure invites contemplation of nature’s stillness, reflecting the Romantic interest in personal response to the landscape.
Technique & Style
Constable employed a restrained palette of muted earth tones, applying soft, layered brushstrokes to render atmospheric effects. A preliminary pencil drawing of the same view appears on the reverse, illustrating his method of sketching directly in the field before developing the full watercolour.
History & Provenance
Created during Constable’s 1806 visit to the Lake District, the piece is among the numerous drawings he produced there. After its exhibition at the Royal Academy, the work entered private collections, later becoming part of the public record through museum acquisition, though specific ownership details remain limited.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
