Michael Rosenthal clears away the myths to reveal the aims and motives behind the paintings, showing how and why they changed so dramatically, in intentions and appearance, throughout a career which never proceeded smoothly, and which was remarkable for its singular dedication to the art of painting. From sketchy to finished, from minutely detailed to expressionist, Constable's paintings, watercolours and drawings are discussed against the background of a complex period in British history, and integrated with the broader cultural milieu.

The author's previous study, Constable: The Painter and his Landscape, was awarded the Governors' prize by Yale University press in 1984.