Charles John Holmes

“ At home he practised painting from nature in company with John Dunthorne, a plumber and glazier, an ingenious and original man, who shared the boy's enthusiasm for art. As in the case of Crome, who, as a boy, was apprenticed for seven years to a coach, house, and sign painter, this early acquaintance with men who used paint in the broadest and simplest manner was doubtless of much use in saving Constable from any pettiness or timidity in the handling of pigment. ”

“ The correspondence of the two lovers as given by Leslie should be read in extenso by all who are interested in Constable's personality, and is of no little interest as a human document. It is amusing to contrast the two young people. The artist is ardent, hopes and despairs alternately, turns for a time to portrait-painting as a means of making money, but is always intent upon bringing matters to a climax. ”

“ Near this village he built for himself the house in which his second son John was born on 11th June 1776. This house was pulled down many years ago, and exists only on Constable's canvas. An engraving by Lucas, from one of his numerous sketches of it, forms the frontispiece to his "English Landscape Scenery." Several other views of the house may be seen in the room devoted to Constable's work at South Kensington.
Though delicate as an infant, John Constable grew up into a healthy child, and afterwards became remarkable for good looks and physical strength. ”

“ The death of his mother was an especially heavy blow to his affectionate nature. She had not only done all she could to bring his courtship to a successful issue, but had continued to encourage his artistic efforts, when his professional prospects seemed most desperate. ”

“ Though Farington was not himself a great artist, having most of the mannerisms of his master Wilson and few of his excellences, he was sufficiently open-minded to be able to recognise the young man's originality, and informed him that his style of landscape would some day form a distinct feature in the art. Constable also made the acquaintance of "Antiquity" Smith, the biographer of the sculptor Nollekens, who gave him much sound advice. He corresponded freely with Smith during the next few years, chiefly on matters relating to art ”

“ Judging from his letters to Dunthorne, he seems at first to have devoted most of his time to copying the works of the old masters, with the intention of acquiring a skill in execution which would enable him to face nature more boldly. ”

“ He has a great share of feeling, and it has sadly hurt him ... I am sure your heart is too good not to feel for my father. He would wish to make us all happy if he could. Pray do not come to town just yet. ”