John Constable, who captured the landscapes and skies of southern England in a way never before seen on canvas, is a beloved but little-understood artist. His letters and diaries reveal a man of opinion, passion, and discord. These multifaceted reflections draw a sharp picture of the person, as well as the painter. James Hamilton's biography explodes previous mythologies about this timeless artist and establishes him in his proper context as a giant of European art.