Hardcover. Oxford UK, Cambridge University Press, 1st, Book: Very Good, Dust Jacket: Very Good, Hardcover in a bright dust jacket, 256 pages. Much has been written about John Constable and his innovative paintings that inspire every succeeding generation of naturalistic artists, but there are few straightforward accounts of this English artist's life and works. Cormack's monograph links biographical detail and scholarly appraisal together in a way that goes beyond the previously most pertinent biography, Graham Reynold's Constable (London: Grenada, 1977). He focuses on the growth of Constable's career rather than new revelations. The book benefits from the inclusion of almost 300 illustrations, with one-third in color. All the major works are shown, plus many that have not been published much in the past. A few flaws are noted: some color reproductions are overbright, there is no chronology to assist readers. Yet this is a solid work and should be considered for large public and all academic libraries covering 19th century art and/or British painting. Clean copy.
