Last updated: 27 October 2026
John Constable (1776 to 1837) is the Suffolk-born painter of The Hay-Wain, Hampstead skies and Salisbury Cathedral. Here you will find our take on his work, the 2025 to 2026 Tate Britain show with Turner, and the prints you can buy from £12.
Our take on John Constable
Constable painted the places he knew: the Stour valley around his birthplace, East Bergholt in Suffolk, and Hampstead, where he lived from 1819 and made about a hundred cloud studies, according to Tate.
Tate Britain paired him with J.M.W. Turner in Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals, which closed on 12 April 2026. If Turner was the fire in the “fire and water” comparison critics made, Constable was the water: damp skies, rivers and mills. The show included The White Horse (1819) and Hampstead Heath with a Rainbow (1836).
He was not an overnight success. He became a full Royal Academician only in 1829, and The Hay-Wain won a gold medal from Charles X of France after it showed at the Paris Salon in 1824.
John Constable: the essentials
- Born in East Bergholt, Suffolk, in 1776; died in Bloomsbury, London, in 1837, and buried at St John’s, Hampstead.
- Entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1799 and first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1802.
- Married Maria Bicknell in 1816; they had seven children.
- Elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1819 and a Royal Academician in 1829.
- Lectured on landscape painting between 1833 and 1836.
John Constable exhibitions
- Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals, Tate Britain, London, 27 November 2025 to 12 April 2026. Closed, with no tour.
Where to buy a John Constable print
Tate’s own shop sells posters and made-to-order prints:
John Constable FAQs
Where was John Constable born?
In East Bergholt, Suffolk, in 1776.
What is John Constable famous for?
Landscapes of Suffolk, Hampstead and Salisbury, including The Hay-Wain, and his cloud studies.
Did Turner and Constable know each other?
Yes. They exhibited side by side at the Royal Academy, and Tate Britain’s 2025 to 2026 show was built around their rivalry.
Can I buy a John Constable print?
Yes. Tate’s shop sells posters from £12 and made-to-order prints from £30.
More from CoolCuration
- National Art Pass: discounts on big shows across the UK, including Tate.
- Great Art Explained: James Payne’s guide to how famous works were made.
- Whistler at Tate Britain review: another big Tate Britain show of 2026.
- Best affordable art in the UK: where to start collecting prints.
Think we’re missing something, got something wrong, or want to be featured? Contact us.
Main image: John Constable by Ramsay Richard Reinagle, about 1799. National Portrait Gallery, London, public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration. No photograph of Constable exists; the image is a painted portrait by Ramsay Richard Reinagle. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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