The Rivals Exhibition, Tate Britain

The new exhibition highlights the rivalry and contrasting personalities of contemporary artists Joseph Mallord William Turner and John Constable, who lived in the 18th and 19th Century.

J.M.W. Turner (1775 – 1851)

“He was a genius of the first order—far the greatest painter that England has ever produced…”

~ Kenneth Clark, Art historian

Birth Chart

Turner had the Sun in Taurus, a classic sign for Fine Art.  There is more than a trace of the Warrior Archetype in his chart, with the Sun trine Mars, and the North Node conjunct Mars.  The Sun is also closely trine the North Node, indicating the Creator Archetype.  He had the Moon exactly sextile Mercury – a harmonious alliance between the imagination and the intellect.  Mercury was loosely conjunct Chiron – showing a problem-solving mind.  With Venus conjunct Uranus, he had an unusual relationship with society, and unique artforms, and his personality was described as eccentric. Venus square to the Nodal Axis suggests karma with the art world, which may include that with John Constable.  With Venus loosely conjunct the I.C. in Taurus in 5th House, Art was the Foundation of his life and creativity.  Mars square Jupiter gave him over-the-top energy and productivity.  Mars square Uranus conferred an electrical quality to his energy. The square of Mars to the Midheaven may indicate “rivalry” with another male painter.  Jupiter loosely conjunct Uranus equates with the Entrepreneur Archetype, and Jupiter trine Neptune, mystical atmospheres in his work.  Saturn trine Pluto (The Strategist Archetype), part of a Grand Trine, helped in organizing his compositions.  With Uranus at 0 degrees Gemini, he was bringing into being a new genre.  Uranus was exactly square the Nodal Axis, suggesting some alienation from society, and being destined to bring in something new.  He was an inspiration for the Impressionist movement.

Life and Career

Turner was born in Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, and was regarded as a child prodigy.  He studied at the Royal Academy of Arts from the age of 14, and opened his own gallery at the age of 29, around the age of his Saturn Return.  In his life, he travelled a great deal, both in the U.K. and Europe, always with a sketchbook in hand (leaving a substantial number as a legacy). His work was championed by art critic John Ruskin.  He was very close to his father, and grew morose after his father died in 1828.  We know that he had two relationships, one with a widowed housekeeper Sarah Danby, and another with widow Sophia Caroline Booth.  Sarah Danby had two daughters, of whom he is believed to be the father.

Style

Though he began his life as a painter copying the prevailing Romantic and Realist trends, in his later years he developed a unique way of depicting light, for example in “Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway” (1844), a style we know and love.  He was a great influence on Monet and other Impressionists, in moving away from Realism.

He was memorably portrayed by the actor Timothy Spall in Mike Leigh’s film of 2014.

John Constable (1776 – 1837)

(his art) “is to be found under every hedge, and in every land, and therefore nobody thinks it worth picking up”.

~ John Constable

Birth Chart

John Constable’s Sun was in the neighbouring sign of Gemini, but there is no overlap between their Sun signs in their charts, even though Turner had Uranus at 0 degrees Gemini.  Constable was wedded to the rural Suffolk, whereas Turner was born in the city of London. They were born a year apart, and highlights the idea that often those of genius in their field often incarnate in a similar timeframe in order to push each other’s talents to the hilt.  Constable’s Sun was loosely conjunct Jupiter, giving him a more optimistic nature intrinsically.  John had the application of the Sun trine Saturn, but also the wide imagination of Sun closely square Neptune.  His Venus was exactly conjunct Mars, which may depict the sensuous appreciation of nature in his work.  Like Turner, he had Venus conjunct Uranus, but his social life was more conventional than Turner’s. Mars conjunct Uranus may have given him the ability to engineer the realism in his work. His work, though spectacular, did not tend to move from the Realism of the day.  Other strengths in his chart were Saturn trine Uranus and Neptune trine Pluto.

Life and Work

Constable was born in East Berholt, on the river Stour in Suffolk, and has given rise to the area being called “Constable Country”.  His father was a corn merchant, and owner of a local mill.  In his youth, he began sketching in his locality:

“the sound of water escaping from mill dams etc., willows, old rotten planks, slimy posts, and brickwork, I love such things.” 

That highlights the sensuality of his natal exact conjunction of Venus and Mars.  He was clear from an early age that he wanted to pursue art, and his father helped set him up financially, but he was never hugely successful financially.

Next to Turner’s later work, his work is masterfully realistic and detailed, as in the painters he admired such as Gainsborough, but the colours are more muted than Turner’s.  His strength, I feel is in portraying a quintessential rural Englishness, and that is what appealed to his continental contemporaries.

He did not have such a prolific output as Turner, and took far longer to be recognized in the art world.  His most famous work “The Hay Wain” was painted in 1821.  Though he exhibited from 1806, he was not elected to the Royal Academy of Arts until he was 52.  On the continent, he influenced the Barbizon School.

Like Turner, he did travel, in England and Europe, and some of his notable works are of the Salisbury area, including Stonehenge.

Marriage

He met his future wife early in life, and the relationship deepened in 1809.  There was family opposition to the match on both sides, relating to the fact that she came from a wealthy family.  He eventually married Maria Bicknell in 1816.  Their honeymoon on the south coast stimulated his ability to paint seascapes and open skies.   This period also increased his emotional range.  He sold his first significant canvas in 1819, entitled “The White Horse”.  At the time, his progressed Sun was sextile his natal Venus in Gemini.  This sale enabled him to be elected an associate of the Royal Academy, and encouraged him to paint on a grand scale.  “The Hay Wain” was exhibited two years later.  It made a huge impression on the French painter Eugene Delacroix.

Meanwhile, his wife’s health was faltering.  They moved to Brighton in the hope that it would improve the condition of tuberculosis.  She bore him seven children, and as the sea air had not proved to be of any great help, they moved back to Hampstead.  It was the year 1818, and she died in November.  This is the same year that Turner lost his father: a more complete astrological study may uncover an astrological correlation, in the movements of the outer planets.  At her death, the North Node was on Constable’s natal Saturn in Libra. He wrote:

“hourly do I feel the loss of my departed Angel—God only knows how my children will be brought up…the face of the World is totally changed to me”.

He dressed in black, and tragically, he was left to care for his seven children.  His work suffered, in his anguish.  He died in 1837 of heart failure.

He was elected to the Royal Academy in February 1829, at the age of 52. In 1831 he was appointed Visitor at the Royal Academy, where he seems to have been popular with the students.

Relationship between Turner and Constable

Turner’s Mercury was sextile Constable Mars, a rivalrous but stimulating combination!

Turner’s Venus was trine Constable’s Pluto, a more constructive interaspect.

Turner’s Neptune squared Constable’s Sun, accentuating Constable’s own sensitivities.

Turner’s Mercury was sextile Constable’s Venus – an implied conversation.

In a symbol of their rivalry, in 1832 at the Royal Academy Turner made a last minute addition to his painting “Helvoetsluys” by adding a bright red buoy.  Constable’s reaction was “He has been in here and fired a gun”.  Constable was exhibiting a painting of the opening of Waterloo Bridge.

Exhibition

The Exhibition “Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals” runs from Thursday 27 November 2025 to 12 April 2026.  Hubby and I have just bought our tickets.  Hurry if you are interested, as we discovered they are booked up until February, already!

I am a wholehearted fan of Turner, but very much appreciate the quintessentially English quality of Constable’s work.  Turner may be a national treasure, but the more abstract nature of his work does not achieve that unique place that Constable holds.

“The climate emergency gives a renewed urgency to their work.  Their influence can be seen in the cracking icebergs and crumbling coastlines of Emma Stibbon’s paintings and  the elemental installations of Olafur Eliasson.”

~ the Guardian leader

Aspects

It’s a Venusian day.  All three astrological features today involve Venus (so particularly pertinent to Taureans and Librans).  And the fourth feature of the week also involves Venus…So an art blog is a suitable subject.

Today Uranus opposed Venus in the early hours.  Any attempts to persuade another of your point of view may lead to intransigence or detachment on their part.  Someone around you may be displaying skittish behaviour.  There may be strange social encounters, too.  Be clear from your heart, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, as cross currents and crossed purposes can occur.   Venus opposite Uranus also neatly encapsulates the idea of an art rivalry.  Your dreams in the night may encapsulate such competition (mine did, as it happens!)

At breakfast-time, Venus was trine Neptune, so some elements of rivalry may have been washed away through spiritual alignment.  Inspiration and spirituality uplift proceedings.  Whatever your art form, it can be enhanced today (especially dance).  In relationship, there is a potential for spiritual bonding.  The effect of Neptune may be stronger than the effect of Uranus.

This evening, Venus moves into Sagittarius.  You may be in party mood, whether in person, socially distanced gatherings, or in virtual reality.  Venus in Sagittarius ensures that the mood stays around, right through till Christmas Eve.  It is there if you need it.  Venus in Sagittarius is a good-will-to-all men and women vibe.  Keep it going.

Then we are into December…On Tuesday (December 2nd) Venus will be sextile with Pluto.  This aspect has the capacity to get to the root of a problem, be it Love and/or Money, both of which are represented by aspects of Venus and Pluto.  It could be a time of difficult but rewarding soul searching with loved ones.  In finance, there could be hard won but satisfying bargaining and balancing – a suitable day for Rachel Reeves to make her case.  (Laura Kuenssberg gave her a grilling this morning, then had a cosy chat with Kemi Badenoch).  If you are an artist or musician, you could take a step further in your art, and deepen the value and content of the material you are working with.

We then build up to a Full Moon at 13 degrees Gemini on Thursday (4th).  The tussle of Moon in Gemini and Sun in Sagittarius is a tussle over communication, and that is the principle which can also bring them to a whole.  You may feel or see acutely the two sides of a story, e.g. some of the polarities occurring in the news and worldwide.  With the Moon being in Gemini, however, you may feel you cannot handle a depth emotional approach at this moment of time.

Friday (5th) presents us with a square between the Sun and the Nodal Axis.  This is a challenge for us to stay on our karmic path even if group pressure tries to sway our individuality.  We have to find a way to honour our own way, while staying in integrity with society or outside pressures.  It may present as a power struggle, but can be an opportunity to find higher solutions.

On the same day, Mars trines Chiron.  You may find that to be a useful extra in your toolbox.  It combines physicality and healing.  Qijong and Tai Chi would be good combinations of movement and healing if you practise them.  Active projects may have healing applications, and healing initiatives will have a dynamic energy.

At the end of the week, Saturday (6th) brings a trine between Mercury and Jupiter, which can restore sanity and optimism.  This aspect can bring good news, which is welcome at any time.  It can bring productivity, and good conversation.  Mercury trine Jupiter expands our minds and philosophies.  This is an upbeat vibe mentally, and can bring opportunities.  It is also helpful for writing projects and studying, so you may make progress on such projects.

The week in bullet points:

  • Today – relationship and money focus: estrangement, harmony, then sociability
  • Tuesday – profitable deep soul-searching
  • Thursday – emotional high tide
  • Friday – honouring karma; movement meditation
  • Saturday – open-mindedness and progress
Date: Nov 30th, 2025 · Comments RSS · Tags: Art