Malvern Hall, John Constable
Though Constable is better known for his images of the farms and uncultivated countryside of his native Suffolk, he also painted views of elegant country houses and their manicured grounds. He first painted this property in 1809, which was also the first time he completed a landscape in the open air. Many years later, this picture was commissioned by the sister of Malvern Hall’s owner, perhaps as a reminder of her childhood home. The dramatic sky and closely observed details—such as the peacocks on the lawn—enhance the grandeur of the estate.
