Paintings of John Constable always show him with rosy cheeks

Even the artist who created this charcoal drawings in black and white, thought it necessary to add the rosy cheeks in pink to ensure people knew who it was

He did manage to sire seven children within a very short time with his beloved wife, Maria. That would turn anyone’s cheeks a rosy red.

He was born in 1776. His parents were comparatively well off and when he told them that he wanted to become an artist rather than join his fathers firm, they generously agreed to give him a small allowance to enable him to do so. He was a prolific artist but sadly met with limited success in his lifetime. But there is nothing like the death of an artist to increase the interest in his work, and he is now recognised as one of England’s great painters. So famous is he, that the small area of Suffolk that he loved to paint is now know as Constable Country and thanks to the National Trust you can now stroll along the banks of the River Stour in Suffolk and take the exact same walk that Constable loved to make between the villages of Flatford and Dedham. He made the walk with his easel, brushes and paint and we made the walk with our cameras. But the results were remarkably similar.

Just take a look of one of his most famous paintings, The Mill Stream, painted in 1814.

Then look at the photo I took over 210 years later

The only difference is the weather!

Constable was famous for his skies. He loved to paint clouds and it seems as if he only chose cloudy days to paint all his landscapes. But then again, when you live in England you don’t have a lot of choice. But somehow the day Gordon and I decided to follow in Constable’s footprints, the sun was shining and the mercury was trying to reach 8o degrees.

Fortunately, the English, although many miles away from the nearest beach, always carry a swimsuit with them just in case. They also see no reason to pay any attention to the sign that says “no swimming allowed” .

Meanwhile the cows, obey the signs, and simply look for shade

The more energetic (that would not be me) take to the boats

The boats were a little larger in Constable’s day

But the bend in the river is just the same

It is a delightful walk between the two villages and it is easy to see why the scenery so inspired Constable. The path from the river to the village of Dedham is even more spectacular

As we walk back to Flatford, the Mill House comes into view

It is instantly recognizable from another of Constable’s paintings

It has been a fascinating day. But it is time to move on.

Enough of living in the middle of nowhere and being dragged from one cultural site to another.

We are off to Copenhagen where we have an apartment bang in the middle of the city and I will be dragged from one Museum to another. But it will be Danish culture rather than English. As if that makes it better!!

But its just for three days so I should survive

And then its onto a Silversea Cruise around the Baltic. Champagne and caviar at last!

Stay tuned