Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Ground

Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Ground, painted in 1823, is one of several versions Constable produced of this celebrated view commissioned by his close friend John Fisher, Bishop of Salisbury. The painting shows the cathedral’s spire framed by arching elm trees, with the Bishop and his wife walking in the foreground. This version at the V&A is one of several studies and finished paintings Constable made of the subject. Fisher was one of Constable’s most important patrons and closest friends, and the Salisbury Cathedral paintings represent one of the most sustained artist-patron relationships in British art. The cathedral’s Gothic architecture fascinated Constable as an expression of English heritage.

The painting demonstrates Constable's mature handling of architectural detail within a natural setting. Rich greens in the foreground trees are built up through layers of varied hues, while the cathedral stonework is rendered with precise tonal values.

This painting is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. It was painted during Constable's visit to Salisbury as a guest of Bishop Fisher. The V&A version shows the cathedral under fair skies, while the version Constable painted for the Bishop (now elsewhere) features a more dramatic stormy sky. The painting has been cleaned and restored. The canvas is in good condition, with the architectural details of the cathedral well-preserved.