Paintings that put rivals in wrong frame of mind are finally reunited
IT WAS the sort of spat the art world had seldom seen, and whose indecorousness made even today’s enfant terrible Tracey Emin seem like Queen Victoria.
Two masterworks by JMW Turner and John Constable were originally exhibited together in 1831 at the Royal Academy. But their relative position was the source of bitter disharmony.
Only now, nearly two centuries later, have they been finally reunited. Salisbury Cathedral From The Meadows by Constable and
Caligula’s Palace And Bridge by Turner were originally displayed by Constable, who was curating having been appointed the Academy’s “hangman” for that year. At first, he gave Turner’s work more prominence, but just before opening, switched the paintings around.
According to accounts of a dinner party at the time, his action led Turner to “slew Constable without remorse”.
Turner and Constable remained rivals to the end.
Salisbury Cathedral From
The Meadows, which Constable regarded it as his finest work, has now returned to Tate Britain following a five-year journey across other UK museums, where it has been seen by almost a million people.
Alex Farquharson, the Tate’s director, said: “Constable himself wanted the work to be seen by as many people across the country as possible.
“This has encapsulated his wish, making this monumental piece of art history available to ever broader audiences.”
The works, both from Tate’s permanent collections, are on display together at Tate Britain in
Fire And Water from today until next July.
Constable wanted the work seen by as many people as possible. Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson.