Landscape with a Double Rainbow 1812

John Constable made this oil on paper work, "Landscape with a Double Rainbow," in England during the early 19th century. Constable devoted his career to depicting the English countryside, especially the Stour valley where he grew up. This small sketch captures a fleeting moment of natural beauty, the double rainbow arcing across a stormy sky. His focus on the landscape as a subject in its own right was somewhat novel at the time. Before artists were more likely to use the landscape as a mere backdrop for historical or mythological scenes, reinforcing established hierarchies of genre. Constable's commitment to representing nature accurately, based on his own observations, aligns with the growing emphasis on empirical science during this period. He was progressive in his belief that humble, everyday subjects were worthy of artistic attention. The Royal Academy, however, was less convinced, and did not fully embrace Constable’s radical vision until later in his career. To understand Constable's work, we need to consider the changing social attitudes toward nature and the institutions that shaped artistic taste. Examining the exhibition records of the Royal Academy, and the writings of art critics is a valuable way to understand the original context of this painting.