The Life of John Constable Trivia Quiz

Answer: East Bergholt

John Constable was born on June 11, 1776, his parents were wealthy corn merchants, but John had a natural talent that could and would not be ignored. As a small boy, he enjoyed sketching the countryside of Essex and Suffolk, John said of this experience later in his life that "these scenes of the countryside made me the painter that I am."

Wanting to give their son a good education, Golding and Anne decided to enroll their youngest son in the Lavenham Boarding School; unfortunately, John did not do well in the school and was transferred to the Dedham Grammar School. The headmaster of Dedham told John's parents that while he liked and admired the boy's spirit, he was lacking academically. He further went on to say that the only subject John excelled in was penmanship.

In the Constable family, being the youngest male child meant that one was expected to become a clergyman; while John's oldest brother, Golding, named after his father, was to take control of the family business. Golding, Jr. was unable to do so, because he suffered from epilepsy, and was considered mentally ill. Thus, all of Golding, Sr. and Anne's dreams of a successor for the family business fell on John's shoulders.

While learning the family trade, the youngest Constable continued to pursue drawing in his spare time. John wanted nothing more than to draw the scenes of the countryside that so enchanted him.

Answer: 1796

Constable visited London in 1796, he used business as a pretense in doing so. While there, he had a rare opportunity to meet with John Thomas Smith, who was considered a drawing master. Smith was known by the rather unique nickname of "Antiquity," because he wrote a book about London antiques.

It was Smith who convinced Golding Constable that his son was wasting his time with the family business, and that John could and would become one of the greatest painters of his time.

Answer: Dr John Fisher

During Constable's time at Dedham Vale, he met Dr John Fisher, the son of the Bishop of Salisbury...the two would become life long friends. It was Fisher who stood behind John, when Maria's parents did not want her to marry Constable.

John shared many of his life's intimacies with Fisher, including why he wanted to be a painter. Constable told Fisher that "to be a painter, would be like giving the gift of life to a newborn babe, to be able to breath life into them is awe-inspiring."

Answer: Maria Bicknell

Maria's parents and her grandparents were dead set against a marriage to John, as they felt that he had nothing of substance to offer her. Maria, however, was not to be swayed, and defied her parents and grandparents at every turn...she would do anything to spend even just a little time with John.

John and Maria would meet in secret places and express their love, this went on until 1816, when Golding died, and John inherited a sizable fortune; thus making the acceptance of marriage much more agreeable to the Ruddes.

Answer: £200

Upon the death of his father, John was to receive £200 annually. In truth it was not a great fortune, but is was more than John had in any given year up to that point. The annual inheritance would be put to good use, as John and Maria were expecting their first child.

On December 4, 1817, John Constable, Jr. was born, and his parents could not have been happier.

Answer: That the young painter would become the leading landscape painter

The "Literary Chronicle" stated "That the young painter would become the leading landscape painter," at this statement Constable had quite a laugh...he was not quite the "young" painter that they had made him out to be, certainly not at the age of forty.

In 1824, a significant moment happened in John's life, he was awarded the medal Charles X at the Salon in Paris.

Answer: False

Constable never went abroad, but instead, chose to create his magnificient paintings of the beautiful English countryside in Suffolk and Hampstead...the places that he loved and admired.

Answer: He was commissioned by Thomas Fitzhugh, as a wedding present for his betrothed

Around 1815, he was commissioned by Thomas Fitzhugh to create a painting for his wife, who was from Philadelphia. Mrs Fitzhugh's was captivated by the beautiful countryside...and so bearing this in mind, Constable set about to create a magnificent painting that would always remind her of her time spent in England.

"Stour Valley and Dedham Church" was done in oil on canvas and measures 21 7/8 x 30 5/8 inches.

Answer: Branch Hill Pond, Hampstead

This is noted by historians as Constable's all-time favorite creation. The magnificent way he creates the landscape shows to the world exactly how beautiful the countryside truly is. "Branch Hill Pond, Hampstead" was done in oil on canvas and measures 23 7/8 x 30 3/4 inches.

This beautiful painting can be viewed at the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio.

Answer: False

In 1828, when his lovely wife, Maria passed away, John was so broken hearted and grief stricken that he would wear black for the remainder of his life.

In 1829, he was accepted as a member of the Royal Academy. And although he continued to paint, he would never truly achieve the success that should have been his. Only in death would he truly be recognized as one of the greatest landscape painters.

John Constable passed away in London on March 31, 1837. To the people that admire his paintings, he has given to the world a truly remarkable and breathtaking glimpse at the beauty that can be found in the countryside of England.