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John Constable, 'Salisbury Cathedral and Leadenhall from the River Avon', 1820

About the work

Overview

Constable painted Salisbury Cathedral many times from different viewpoints. Some of these pictures were oil sketches made outdoors like this one, while others were large pictures intended for exhibition. This sketch was created during Constable’s six-week visit to Salisbury in the summer of 1820.

The view is from the further bank of the River Avon, looking east across the meadows and the backs of houses in the Close surrounding the spired Cathedral. On the right is Leadenhall, where Constable and his family were staying with his friend, Archdeacon John Fisher. The warm buff-coloured ground (the underlying layer of paint used to prepare the canvas) shows through the paint of the sky, and has been left exposed in many places in the foliage and foreground. The flicks, dots and dashes of thick unblended paint, which make up the figures and reflections on the water, reveal the spontaneity and freshness of Constable’s technique.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Salisbury Cathedral and Leadenhall from the River Avon
Artist dates
1776 - 1837
Date made
1820
Medium and support
oil on canvas
Dimensions
52.7 × 77 cm
Acquisition credit
Salting Bequest, 1910
Inventory number
NG2651
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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