John Constable: Maria Constable's Death

"Maria Constable with Two of Her Children," a quick
sketch by John Constable, ca. 1820

John Constable wrote on the 22nd of August, 1828: "I believe Mrs. Constable to be gaining ground. Her cough is pretty well gone and she has some appetite, and the nightly perspirations are, in a great measure, ceased. All this must be good, and I am a great deal cheered. Still I am anxious - she is so sadly thin and weak. I am determined to try and get her out..."

But her sufferings, which she endured with that entire resignation to the will of Providence that she had shown under every circumstance of her life, were occasioned by pulmonary consumption [tuberculosis]. I was at Hampstead a few days before she breathed her last. She was then on a sofa in their cheerful parlour, and although Constable appeared in his usual spirits in her presence, yet before I left the house he took me into another room, wrung my hand, and burst into tears, with speaking. She died on the 23rd of November at the age of 40.  

From this time to the end of his life Constable never ceased to wear mourning. He returned with his seven children to his house in Charlotte Street, but retained the one in Well Walk, his last residence with his wife, as an occasional residence.

Almost three months later on the 10th of February, he was elected an Academician. Much as he was pleased at the attainment of this honour, he could not help saying sadly, 'It has been delayed until I am solitary, and cannot impart it.'"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Life and Letters of John Constable, R.A." by Charles Robert Leslie.)