Before Tube Paint

On a recent visit to the The Clark Art Institute in
Williamstown MA, the paintbox of English artist
John Constable (1776 – 1837) was on display.

Before collapsable metal tubes artists carried their

paints in tied bladders. I had read about this but never

seen a real artist paintbox in a museum, so I was intrigued.

This hinged tin box housed eleven bladders of pigment.
With our current artist discussions of using a limited

palette I wonder what his colors were.

Today John would have had to place this paintbox in his

checked luggage as I doubt it would make it through

airline security!