These 12 years are characterised by expressive brushwork, first developed in his plein air oil sketches from nature, as well as his full-size preparatory sketches. He also turned to watercolour with an enthusiasm missing since the early 1800s, and some of his late drawings show the same freedom of expression as his paintings from the same period.

Constable also explored the possibilities of printmaking, working on a series of mezzotints designed to promote his use of light and shade, which had become a powerful vehicle of expression in his later work.

This chapter in Constable’s career had an important impact on the next generation of painters, heralding the beginning of important movements in the late 19th century.

This exhibition brings together majestic oil paintings and plein air sketches of the British countryside, from Hampstead Heath and Stonehenge to Brighton seafront, as well as studies of weather phenomena capturing ethereal cloud formations, dramatic storms, dappled sunlight and rainbows.