In his youth, Constable embarked on amateur sketching trips in the surrounding Suffolk and Essex countryside, which was to become the subject of a large proportion of his art.In his youth, Constable embarked on amateur sketching trips in the surrounding Suffolk and Essex countryside, which in later years would inspire the majority of the subject matter of his canvases. Constable, John. Delphi Collected Works of John Constable (Illustrated) (Masters of Art Book 17) (p. 15). Delphi Classics. Kindle Edition. These scenes, in his own words, "made me a painter, and I am grateful"; "the sound of water escaping from mill dams etc., willows, old rotten planks, slimy posts, and brickwork, I love such things." He was introduced to George Beaumont, a collector, who showed him his prized Hagar and the Angel by Claude Lorrain, which inspired Constable.At this time, he was introduced to George Beaumont, an art collector that showed the aspiring artist, amongst his many other treasures, his prized painting Hagar and the Angel by Claude Lorrain, which would have a profound influence on Constable. Delphi Collected Works of John Constable, p.15 Later, while visiting relatives in Middlesex, he was introduced to the professional artist John Thomas Smith, who advised him on painting but also urged him to remain in his father's business rather than take up art professionally.
iN His yoUth, constabLe EmbArked On aMatEur skEtChing trIps in the SurrouNdinG suFfoLk and essex coUntRySiDe, wHICh was to become tHe SubJect of a lArge prOporTIOn Of HIS ArT.in HIs YOUth, constablE eMbarked On AmATEur SketchinG tRips in tHe sUrrOundiNG suFfoLk aNd essEx coUNtRySidE, WHIcH In laTer yearS wOUld InspIrE The maJOritY OF the subject matteR of HIs canVaseS. conSTaBlE, JOHn. DeLphi cOLlecteD wORkS oF jOhn ConStable (ILlustrAteD) (MaStErs of art Book 17) (P. 15). delphi clASsics. kindle EdITion. These SCeNes, in HiS owN wOrDS, "made me a paInter, anD i aM gratefuL"; "thE sOuNd of WateR escapIng frOM mill Dams etc., Willows, Old roTtEn plaNKs, slimy poSTS, and bRIckWOrk, i lovE sucH THings." he was intRoduCeD to geoRgE beaUMonT, a cOllectoR, who shoWeD HIM his PRizEd hagar And the ANGel by CLaUdE LorRAin, WhicH inspired coNsTAble.At this tImE, he WAS intrODUCed to geoRge beaumoNt, aN Art colleCtor thaT sHowed thE aSpiRing artist, aMoNgst his MAnY Other TReaSures, HIs prizeD PainTing HAgar aNd the angel by ClaUDe LORrAin, wHich wOuLd hAvE a profound infLUEnce on conSTablE. delPHi cOllEctEd wOrks Of john ConStaBlE, p.15 lateR, WHiLE VisItIng relatives IN mIDDlesex, hE was INtroduced to THe profeSsiOnAL ArtiSt John thoMas sMitH, wHO AdviseD hIm oN PaINting buT also urGEd hiM to RemAin iN His fatHEr'S bUsInESs raTher tHAn tAkE uP art PRoFESSioNaLLY.