A small exhibition at Hampstead's Burgh House marks the 250th anniversary of John Constable's birth, featuring three mezzotint prints by David Lucas and an oil study for Constable's painting *Hampstead Heath With a Rainbow*. The show offers a darker, less sentimental perspective on the artist, highlighting his parochial focus on English landscapes and his collaboration with print-maker Lucas.
This exhibition matters because it challenges the conventional view of Constable as a painter of quaint, idyllic scenes, presenting instead a more complex and even unsettling side to his work. By showcasing the study and prints, the show appeals to both fans and skeptics, broadening understanding of Constable's artistic range and his place in British art history during his 250th birthday year.