Constable's art X-rayed for show

View on the Stour Near Dedham was X-rayed

An exhibition of paintings by John Constable will allow visitors to view rough sketches underneath one of his masterpieces using X-ray technology.

Tate Britain has used X-rays to reveal the different layers of Constable's View on the Stour Near Dedham.

It shows how original sketches changed from beginning to completion, including the exclusion of the figure of a girl.

The exhibit is part of Tate Britain's Constable: The Great Landscapes show which opens in London on 1 June.

'Famous quote'

Co-curator Anne Lyles said: "This new research carried out by Tate has revealed that by eliminating figurative detail in the foreground of the painting, Constable wanted to create a more powerful visual and narrative focus in the centre of the composition.

"It's fascinating to see from the X-ray Constable's working practice in creating the composition."

Among other work included in the exhibition is Constable's most famous work, The Hay Wain, which is usually housed at the National Gallery.