As part of its partnership with The National Gallery in its 200th year, Boodles is sponsoring an exhibition titled Constable and the Hay Wain. The exhibition tells the story of ‘The Hay Wain’ – Constable’s most famous work completed in 1821 – by taking visitors on a journey through English landscapes at the turn of the 19th century. It also brings together works by other artists, including those that Constable admired personally, like George Morland, William Mulready and William Blake. However, there are three specific paintings by Constable that have attracted Boodles’ attention - The Hay Wain, Weymouth Bay (1816-17) and Stratford Mill (1820) – which perfectly capture the atmospheric beauty of the English countryside at a time when such visuals were considered quite radical!
Recreating the essence of a painting in a jewel is a delicate challenge. Boodles’ designers have managed this feat with precision, resulting in three unique creations that use light, hues and texture to capture the atmosphere of Constable’s works. Each jewel contains a featured gemstone that embodies the essence of its corresponding artwork, often with a moody, stormy skies element that is really evocative of the artist’s signature style. The gems were chosen not only for their beauty but to evoke Constable’s work in the most natural, authentic way. There are some smaller gemstones that surround the central stone, like a painter’s palette, adding layers of depth, and the diamonds cascade across, echoing the play of light and shadow.
Weymouth Bay Brooch
This is a tribute to Constable’s Weymouth Bay: Bowleaze Cove and Jordon Hill, which captures the serene beauty of the Dorset coastline. During his honeymoon in 1816, Constable and his bride, Maria, spent six idyllic weeks near Weymouth, which is encapsulated in the painting. Boodles’ brooch reflects the same scene in exquisite, miniature form. A glowing cabochon lemon ‘chrysoprase,’ with its rounded shape, mirrors the gentle curves of Jordon Hill. Also included in the composition are rubies, brown diamonds, and green tsavorites to evoke the warmth of the rocks and sand, while brilliant white diamonds sweep across like swift-moving clouds. Below, delicate rows of sapphires in graduating shades echo the waves lapping on the shore, creating an effect that almost pulls you into the coastal breeze and misty horizon. This brooch is clever in the way it references the painting in its entirety without sacrificing harmony and balance.
The Hay Wain Brooch
The Hay Wain brooch interprets Constable’s vision of Flatford Mill on the River Stour, operated by his family for nearly a century. It features a shimmering burgundy and deep blue labradorite, set in rose gold, to mirror the play of light on the painting’s millpond. To the right, brilliant-cut diamonds form a soft drift of clouds, while cognac diamonds sit at their lower edge, echoing the waterside rushes. Surrounding the labradorite, bands of blue sapphires reflect the shifting blues of the sky, and three Ceylon sapphires bring out the millpond’s tranquil hues above the wagon. Beneath those, three sapphire baguettes imply the lines of blue in the water, seen to the left of the horses’ red fringes.
Stratford Mill Necklace
Born in East Bergholt, Suffolk, Constable often drew inspiration from his local landscapes, notably the paper mill in Stratford St Mary, which lends its name to his iconic painting, Stratford Mill. However, the most interesting part of the painting is not the mill but the blue and white cloud-strewn sky, visible not just as an ethereal element but reflected too on the River Stour’s glassy surface. Boodles’ necklace interpretation features an oval-shaped labradorite to mirror the blues and purples of the sky, surrounded by graduating brilliant-cut diamonds to channel the ethereal clouds. This is complemented by five light blue Ceylon sapphires that add injections of serene hues reminiscent of a lazy English summer afternoon.
What strikes me about this trio of art-inspired works is their contemporary aesthetic. Constable’s famed paintings are deeply rooted in a different time, when even his portrayal of foliage, clouds, and reflected sunlight were deemed radical and innovative. Therefore, it makes sense to me that Boodles has chosen sleek bezel settings, modern colour combinations and striking silhouettes rather than taking a classical approach. The brand is celebrating not only the artworks but the man himself! All this is a good reminder that art can be shared and celebrated, if only we have the imagination to think outside the box.
