John Constable: Parham Mill, Gillingham, Dorset, 1826

image courtesy of Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection

John Constable (1776-1837)

Landscape painting in oil became more popular throughout the 19th century, and John Constable and J.M.W. Turner take credit for establishing landscape as a suitable theme for painting. Until then, history paintings had been considered more important, but increasingly naturalistic oil paintings of picturesque views of the British landscape appealed to a wider section of the art-buying public.

Parham Mill, known today as Purns Mill, was formerly known as Parham's Mill from an earlier owner, Matthew Parham. Constable may have originally been commissioned by John Pern Tinny to paint this picture as it is thought that Tinny had a family connection with the mill. The painting is based on a sketch made in 1823. The realistic recording of romantic, tumble down picturesque buildings was dear to Constable's heart and to many other painters who followed him. This recording was necessary since the mill was later burnt down and was replaced at once with one that was not as picturesque.

the above text appears on the back of the card
HC-1257: card size 6" x 6" (150mm x 150mm)