A CELEBRATED painting by English Romantic artist John Constable is to be shown in Scotland for the first time in more than 15 years.
The huge Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows is one of a series of “six-footer” canvases by Constable and was painted three years after the death of his wife Maria.
The couple visited Salisbury on their honeymoon and it became a place of solace for the artist as he mourned her loss.
Full of personal meaning, the work depicts a turbulent landscape of storm clouds, reflecting the painter’s state of mind and his concerns about political and social changes of the time that he believed threatened the future of the Anglican churchand rural life.
However, a rainbow spanning the composition, which Constable referred to as “Great Salisbury,” is said to offer hope for the future.
Exhibited in 1831 to a mixed critical reception, it is now regarded as one of his finest works and will be shown at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh from April 8 to March 25.
The Storm, by William McTaggart, known as “the Father of Scottish Painting”, will be exhibited alongside the work. McTaggart was a major fan of Constable and was influenced by his style. Tricia Allerston, deputy director and chief curator at the Scottish National Gallery, described it as a landmark painting.
She said: “It is a landmark painting which complements and enriches the permanent displays at the Scottish National Gallery. In addition, and most excitingly, its arrival also gives us an opportunity to explore the impact of one of the most influential artists of the nineteenth century on one of Scotland’s truly important artists.”
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