Artwork
SALISBURY CATHEDRAL. FROM THE MEADOWS
SALISBURY CATHEDRAL. FROM THE MEADOWS is a print by the Impressionist artist John Constable. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This mezzotint depicts Salisbury Cathedral set within a tranquil English landscape.
About this work
John Constable made this print in 1855. It shows Salisbury Cathedral in a quiet landscape. The print is part of an important series of mezzotints.
The Victoria and Albert Museum says this series is one of the best ever published. The prints were based on Constable’s own oil sketches and paintings.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works by Constable.
Overview
This mezzotint depicts Salisbury Cathedral set within a tranquil English landscape. It is one of the works produced for the ambitious “English Landscape” series, which assembled a selection of John Constable’s sketches and paintings into a coordinated group of prints.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents the medieval cathedral rising above gentle fields, emphasizing the interplay of light and shade that Constable regarded as central to landscape painting. By pairing a historic monument with a serene countryside, the composition underscores the continuity between England’s architectural heritage and its natural scenery.
Technique & Style
The print was executed in mezzotint by David Lucas, a specialist engraver who translated Constable’s oil sketches into a tonal medium capable of rendering subtle gradations of light. The method allows a rich chiaroscuro effect, mirroring the atmospheric qualities that Constable emphasized in his paintings.
History & Provenance
The “English Landscape” series was first issued between 1830 and 1832, with a second edition appearing in 1833. After Constable’s death in 1837, additional impressions and completed plates were released, and Lucas continued to produce new engravings. This particular Salisbury Cathedral print dates from a later reprint in 1855, reflecting the ongoing demand for Constable’s imagery.
Context
Constable’s mezzotint project drew on the traditions of Claude Lorrain and J.M.W. Turner, aiming to validate his approach to depicting the English countryside. By publishing the series, he sought to promote national appreciation of England’s landscapes and to demonstrate the expressive potential of light and shadow in representing nature.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
