A Cottage on the Edge of a Cornfield

This drawing of a tumbledown cottage is inspired by one of Constable’s earliest mentors, John Thomas Smith. Constable first met Smith in 1796 whilst staying with his aunt and uncle in Edmonton, north London. Smith was preparing a series of prints of 'picturesque' cottages for publication, based on real cottages on the outskirts of London and influenced by Gainsborough. Constable was enthusiastic about the project and sent Smith his own cottage drawings for consideration.

The Constable Family