Art Review: Constable, Gainsborough, Turner @ Royal Academy

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 135 months ago
Art Review: Constable, Gainsborough, Turner @ Royal Academy
03/1391
 PL000938
 John Constable R.A.,
 The Leaping Horse, 1825
 Oil on canvas, 142 x 187.3 cm
 Photo: John Hammond é Royal Academy of Arts, London
John Constable R.A., The Leaping Horse, 1825. Photo: John Hammond © Royal Academy of Arts, London
03/1396
 PL001739
 Thomas Gainsborough R.A.
 Romantic Landscape, c. 1783
 Oil on canvas, 153.7 x 186.7 cm
 Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited é Royal Academy of Arts, London
Thomas Gainsborough R.A. Romantic Landscape, c. 1783. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited © Royal Academy of Arts, London
03/1383
 PL000980
 J. M. W. Turner R.A.
 Dolbadern Castle, 1800
 Oil on canvas, 119.4 x 90.2 cm
 Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited é Royal Academy of Arts, London
J. M. W. Turner R.A. Dolbadern Castle, 1800. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Limited © Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL000569
 Michael Angelo Rooker, A.R.A.
 The Gatehouse of Battle Abbey, Sussex
 1792
 Pencil and watercolour on wove paper
 41.80 x 59.70 cm
 Photo credit: é Royal Academy of Arts, London
Michael Angelo Rooker, A.R.A. The Gatehouse of Battle Abbey, Sussex 1792. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL001030
 J.M.W. Turner, R.A.
 Norham Castle on the Tweed
 1 January 1816
 Etching and mezzotint
 17.80 x 26.0 cm
 Photo credit: é Royal Academy of Arts, London
J.M.W. Turner, R.A. Norham Castle on the Tweed 1 January 1816. Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL000446
 John Constable, R.A.
 Cloud Study, Hampstead, Tree at Right
 11 September 1821
 24.10 x 29.90 cm
 Oil on paper laid on board, red ground
 Photo credit: é Royal Academy of Arts, London; Photographer: John Hammond
John Constable, R.A. Cloud Study, Hampstead, Tree at Right 11 September 1821 Photo credit: © Royal Academy of Arts, London; Photographer: John Hammond

The three big names of landscape painting are in the exhibition title to draw in the crowds, but the real focus of this show is to chart the history and evolution of British landscape painting.

It starts off in a strange manner by showcasing how modern landscape artists have been influenced by the Romantics. Surely this would have been better left to the end? We then progress into the early days, where British artists were mere imitators — simply creating engravings of foreign masterpieces by Poussin, Lorrain and Rubens.

Visitors will have to wait until Room IV to catch some colour, where two impressive paintings by Constable display his mastery at capturing the moment of a leaping horse, as the water ripples around it and the clouds roll by. It's a shame that these two works and a Romantic landscape by Gainsborough are the only pieces that truly clamour for visitors' attention.

There is a section on watercolours but contemporaries such as Sandby and Rooker demonstrate how they were hamstrung by this medium and couldn't compete with oil painters. Though engravings and mezzotints would've been big business in their day, this exhibition relies too heavily on them and would've benefitted from displaying more oils.

What's missing is the narrative of how Constable and Gainsborough peaked with their realistic landscapes while Turner used this work as a jumping off point to progress into the more evocative works that he is best known for.

This is a short and rather disappointing exhibition. Considering all of the works are from the Royal Academy's collection, the admission charge is also difficult to justify.

Constable, Gainsborough, Turner and the Making of Landscape is on display at the Royal Academy of Arts until 17 February. Tickets are £8 for adults, concessions available.

Last Updated 11 December 2012