Tate Britain has just opened the most comprehensive exhibition of Constable's 'six footers' in this country ever (makes it sound like a CD compliation doesn't it?) and it will be good to assess Constable and compare him with the Turner paintings I saw last year in the Turner, Whilster Monet, exhibition also at Tate Britain.
My personal preference has always been Turner, although I admire Constable's works they've always struck me as being from the 'biscuit tin' school of painting. They are the sort of paintings you will over hear people saying, "Oh that's nice," in the same tone an old Aunt would describe her favourite nephews latest jumper. I find them dull, and this is despite having a family connection with the area Constable grew up in and painted, my mother's family are from East Bergholt and other villages along the Stour on the Essex/Suffolk border. They are paintings equivalent of Jack Johnson or Dave Gilmour, technically perfect, emotionally barren. Turner on the other hand produces works that excite, intrigue and lure you into them. I remember the first time I saw Rain, Steam and Speed at the National Gallery, although the painting is quite small (about 3 x 4 feet) - the movement of the train on Maidenhead railway bridge leaps out at you from the canvas, you can see and sense both the driving rain and the speed of the train.
Look at the two examples below, which painting fills you with excitement?
The Hay Wain by John Constable
Rain, Steam and Speed by J.M.W Turner
No comments:
Post a Comment