A long-lost painting by John Constable, titled *View of Salisbury from Harnham Ridge*, has been rediscovered after more than six decades in a private collection. The work, dated to the 1820s, will go on public view for the first time in decades at Salisbury Museum on June 11, where it will remain on long-term loan until 2030. The rediscovery was spearheaded by Constable specialist Timothy Wilcox, and the painting depicts a rural scene with the River Avon and Salisbury Cathedral's spire, showcasing Constable's characteristic naturalistic cloud studies.
This unveiling is significant because it marks the first time Salisbury Museum has displayed a Constable painting on long-term loan, addressing what its director Adrian Green called a "tragedy" given Constable's deep connection to the local landscape. The exhibition also places the work alongside a Constable drawing and paintings by J.M.W. Turner, as part of broader celebrations for Constable's 250th birthday. The rediscovery adds to a recent wave of Constable finds, including *The Cornfield* in Texas and a drawing at auction in London, underscoring ongoing scholarly and public interest in the artist.