John Constable, R.A. (1776-1837)

Although the location of the church in the present drawing is unknown, Graham Reynolds (op. cit.) has suggested that it may be in North London. Constable dated many of his sketches and it has therefore been possible to associate the present drawing with two others: one, of Hampstead, dated 2 October and another, of Hendon, dated 8 October. The sketch was executed at a time when Constable was engaged in preparing some of his famous works in oil: a family summer holiday in Salisbury provided him with the opportunity to make many studies of the Cathedral and nearby sites such as Old Sarum, and as the year drew to its close he embarked on painting The Hay Wain (National Gallery, London).