About The Artist - John Constable
(11 June 1776 - 31 March 1837) |
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| John
Constable was a British painter famous for landscape photography
reflecting landscape of Dedham Vale. |
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About
The Painting - Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows |
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Constable painted the
Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows in 1829 barely a year
after his wife passed away. Like his other painting, the Salisbury
Cathedral reflects a glimpse of his imagination and profoundness
that in some way was connected to death, life and love. |
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It was quite sometime
later after the release of his painting that Constable revealed
the true meaning that lay hidden in the stark and bright colors
of the painting. This was summarized in nine lines taken from
"The Seasons", regarded as one of the best compositions of
James Thomson, an 18th Century poet. |
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In Salisbury Cathedral
from the Meadows, the rainbow symbolizes hope that cuts across
the dark clouds of despair. The rainbow of hope takes birth
after the storm that symbolized the death of the pretty and
young Amelia her lover Celadon's arms. |
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The painting in someway
represented the state of mind that Constable had immediately
after the death of his wife. Constable was able to bring out
the intensity of various turbulent emotions that sprung from
a lower state of mind to a higher state and back. The painting
is more of a personal statement but some critics feel that
there maybe certain political meanings to it too. One of the
meanings that many people were able to relate too is that
the painting is a showcase of the clash of nature with industrialization
and it can be seen through the different elements depicted
in the painting. |
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| The different symbolic
elements in the painting include:
- The rainbow: symbol of renewal of optimism
- Grave marker: Symbol of death
- Church: symbol of resurrection and faith
- Ash tree: symbol of life
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John Constable also
included the then Bishop of Salisbury, John Fisher and his
wife in the painting as a mark of respect. |
