John Constable’s meticulous renditions of nature and his masterful use of broken color were considered extraordinary in his era. Originally from England, Constable (1776 – 1837) became famous for his richly detailed, cloud-swept landscapes of local scenery. He drew and sketched extensively outdoors, producing the final artworks in his London studio. Abandoning traditional techniques, he expressed transient light with daubs of white or yellow, and the intensity of storms with rapid brushstrokes. Virtually ignored in his own country, his work garnered several gold medals in France. Constable profoundly influenced the French romantics, the Barbizon school and ultimately, the Impressionists.