A new view of the Thames

The largest known painting by the English artist John Constable has been restored to its former glory – and has simultaneously revealed a long-lost view of the Thames, delighting conservators and historians alike. It was only when layers of dull varnish were removed from the painting, entitled Embarkation of George IV from Whitehall: the Opening of Waterloo Bridge, 1817, that the hidden details were exposed, showing how the skyline has been transformed in the last 200 years. The work will now return to Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire, where it will take pride of place in a special display of Constable’s works. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/angleseyabbey