John Constable is the best-known artist with works in Anglesey Abbey; next come Claude Lorrain, William Etty, Richard Wilson and Edward Seago.
Our catalogue lists 182 works of Anglesey Abbey by 96 artists; the 24 best known are ranked below, each with the works the museum holds.
Entries 1–10
The 10 most widely known artists in Anglesey Abbey
Each entry: dates and birthplace, movement, number of works held in our catalogue, a biographical note and the principal works held.
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Romanticism
1. John Constable 1776–1837
1776–1837 Born in East Bergholt, United Kingdom Romanticism 4 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
John Constable was born in 1776 in the village of East Bergholt, Suffolk. About 1792, he began working in the family business, learning the practicalities of the corn trade before his path shifted toward the canvas. The years following his marriage to Maria Bicknell in 1816 were marked by a shifting sense of place. While his work remained tied to the river and the fields of his youth, his life moved toward the city. By 1827, he had settled permanently in Hampstead, London.
Principal works held
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Baroque
2. Claude Lorrain 1600–1682
1600–1682 Born in Chamagne, France Baroque 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Born around 1600 in Chamagne, a small village in the Duchy of Lorraine (modern-day France), Claude Lorrain – originally Claude Gellée – remains one of the most celebrated landscape painters of the Baroque period. By the 1630s, Claude Lorrain had firmly established himself as the leading landscapist in Italy.
Principal works held
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Romanticism
3. William Etty 1787–1849
1787–1849 Born in York, United Kingdom Romanticism 16 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Born on March 10, 1787, in York, United Kingdom, he was the seventh child of Matthew and Esther Etty. At age 11, on 8 October 1798, he was apprenticed as a printer in Hull. In 1828, he was elected a Royal Academician, a move that solidified his status within the established art world.
Principal works held
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Romanticism
4. Richard Wilson 1713–1782
1713–1782 Born in Penegoes, United Kingdom Romanticism 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Richard Wilson was born on July 24, 1713, in Islington, United Kingdom. Details regarding his early life remain scarce, but it is believed he received foundational artistic training. Wilson’s initial skills were likely developed through self-study and observation, as well as potentially from other artists of the time.
Principal works held
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Impressionism
5. Edward Seago 1910–1974
1910–1974 Impressionism 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
British Impressionist of luminous Norfolk marshes and stormy seascapes, rendered with loose brushwork and careful color modulation. While many artists found their work interrupted by conflict, Seago’s unique talents were pressed into the service of his country.
Principal works held
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6. Joseph Murray Ince 1806–1859
1806–1859 Born in London, United Kingdom 5 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Born in April 1806 in Marylebone, London, his early years were shaped by the pastoral beauty of Presteigne in Radnorshire, where he spent much of his childhood. His formal training began under the guidance of the esteemed painter David Cox, studying with him from 1823 to 1826. In 1826, Ince moved to London, a pivotal moment that allowed his talent to reach the wider art world.
Principal works held
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Neoclassicism
7. Dominic Serres 1722–1793
1722–1793 Born in Auch, France Neoclassicism 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
French-born British marine painter and Royal Academy founder known for dramatic naval battles and detailed ship scenes from the Seven Years' War. Serres’s formative years were marked by exposure to European artistic traditions, particularly those prevalent in Spain.
Principal works held
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Neoclassicism
8. Philip Reinagle 1748–1833
1748–1833 Born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom Neoclassicism 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Reinagle’s dedication to his craft earned him recognition from the Royal Academy, where he was elected an Associate in 1787 – a prestigious honor signifying substantial accomplishment and artistic merit.
Principal works held
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9. Aert Schouman 1710–1792
1710–1792 Born in Dordrecht, Netherlands 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Schouman’s influence was not confined to his own brushstrokes; he was a central architect of the institutional art world in the Netherlands. From 1742 until his death in 1792, he served as the headman of the Dordrecht Guild of St. Luke, a position that placed him at the heart of local artistic governance. As an educator, Schouman’s legacy lived on through a long lineage of pupils, ensuring that his techniques and philosophies were passed down to subsequent generations.
Principal works held
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10. Franz de Paula Ferg 1689–1740
1689–1740 Born in Vienna, Austria 4 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
Born in Vienna, Austria, he was the son of the history painter Adam Pankraz Ferg, who provided his initial artistic foundation. By the time he settled in London around 1724, he had become a versatile creator, capable of producing oil paintings, etchings, and engravings that captured both the grandeur of nature and the intimacy of human interaction. Despite his evident artistic success and the presence of his works in prestigious collections, the final chapters of Ferg’s life were shrouded in hardship.
Principal works held
Entries 11–24
Further artists in Anglesey Abbey, by recognition
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11. John Thomas Serres
Neoclassicism
1759–1825 · born in London, United Kingdom · 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
John Thomas Serres (1759-1825) was a prominent English maritime painter known for his detailed depictions of naval battles, serene river landscapes, and coastal scenes. He served as Marine Painter to King George III and exhibited extensively at the R
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12. James Wilson Carmichael
Romanticism
1799–1868 · born in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom · 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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13. John Frederick Herring, Sr.
Academic Art
1795–1865 · born in London, United Kingdom · 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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14. William Alexander
1767–1816 · born in Maidstone, United Kingdom · 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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15. James Baker Pyne
Romanticism
1800–1870 · born in Bristol, United Kingdom · 4 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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16. Edmund Bristow
Romanticism
1787–1876 · born in Eton, United Kingdom · 18 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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17. George Cole
Romanticism
1810–1883 · born in Portsmouth, United Kingdom · 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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18. Richard Barrett Davis
Neoclassicism
1782–1854 · born in Watford, United Kingdom · 5 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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19. Charles Collins
1680–1744 · born in Dublin, Ireland · 9 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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20. Edward Charles Williams
1807–1881 · born in London, United Kingdom · 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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21. Thomas Churchyard
1798–1865 · born in Kingdom of Great Britain · 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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22. Samuel John Egbert Jones
1797–1861 · born in Kingdom of Great Britain · 8 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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23. Charles Towne
1739–1816 · 2 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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24. Charles S. Brownlow
1885–1948 · 3 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
- Icknield Way Camp (1937)
- Old July Course, Newmarket (1937)
- Old Railway Cutting (1937)
Statistics
Artists of Anglesey Abbey: catalogue statistics
Artists by number of works held
Distribution by century of birth (artists with ≥ 2 works)
Distribution by country of birth (artists with ≥ 2 works)
Distribution by movement (artists with ≥ 2 works)
Women artists
Women artists represented in Anglesey Abbey
3 women artists are recorded in our catalogue of Anglesey Abbey, 3 works in total.
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Amelia Long
1762–1837 · born in Belton House, United Kingdom · 1 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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Anne Nasmyth
1798–1874 · born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom · 1 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
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Victoria Susanna Colkett
1840–1926 · born in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland · 1 works recorded at Anglesey Abbey
- King's College Chapel (1863)
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions on the artists of Anglesey Abbey
Select a question to display the answer.
Which artist in Anglesey Abbey is the most famous?
John Constable, with 4 works at Anglesey Abbey in our catalogue (Lamarsh House, Lamarsh, Essex, Embarkation of George IV from Whitehall: the Opening of Waterloo Bridge and Landscape: Boys Fishing); then Claude Lorrain and William Etty.
Which famous artists are displayed in Anglesey Abbey?
By fame: John Constable (4), Claude Lorrain (3), William Etty (16), Richard Wilson (3), Edward Seago (3), Joseph Murray Ince (5), Dominic Serres (2), Philip Reinagle (3), Aert Schouman (2) and Franz de Paula Ferg (4).
How many painters are represented in Anglesey Abbey?
Our catalogue lists 96 artists with at least one work at Anglesey Abbey, 24 of them with two or more, born between 1600 and 1910 in 6 countries.
Which painter is most represented in Anglesey Abbey?
Edmund Bristow (1787–1876), with 18 works in our catalogue of Anglesey Abbey, ahead of William Etty (16), Charles Collins (9) and Samuel John Egbert Jones (8).
What did John Constable paint that hangs in Anglesey Abbey?
Our catalogue lists 4 works by John Constable at Anglesey Abbey, among them Lamarsh House, Lamarsh, Essex (1790), Embarkation of George IV from Whitehall: the Opening of Waterloo Bridge (1817) and Landscape: Boys Fishing (1813).
How many Claude Lorrain paintings are in Anglesey Abbey?
Our catalogue lists 3 works by Claude Lorrain at Anglesey Abbey, among them A Classical Landscape with Cattle Crossing a Stream (1670), The Arrival of Aeneas at Pallanteum (1675) and The father of Psyche sacrificing at the Temple of Apollo.
What did William Etty paint that hangs in Anglesey Abbey?
Our catalogue lists 16 works by William Etty at Anglesey Abbey, among them A Bacchante and a Young Faun dancing in a Bacchic Setting (1837), The Good Samaritan, A Female Nude Striding in a Landscape and The Toilet of Venus.
Does Anglesey Abbey have any Leonardo da Vinci paintings?
Our catalogue lists no work by Leonardo da Vinci at Anglesey Abbey.
Are there Pablo Picasso works in Anglesey Abbey?
Our catalogue lists no work by Pablo Picasso at Anglesey Abbey.
Are the artists in Anglesey Abbey mostly French, Italian or Dutch?
Counting the artists with two works or more, Anglesey Abbey holds painters born mostly in United Kingdom (14), France (2), Kingdom of Great Britain (2), Netherlands (1) and Austria (1).
Which centuries do the painters of Anglesey Abbey belong to?
Most of the artists with two works or more at Anglesey Abbey were born in the 18th century (16 artists); the earliest in this ranking is Claude Lorrain (1600–1682), the latest Edward Seago (1910–1974).
Are there any women painters in Anglesey Abbey?
3 women artists have works of Anglesey Abbey in our catalogue, among them Amelia Long (1), Anne Nasmyth (1) and Victoria Susanna Colkett (1).
Institution
Anglesey Abbey (, United Kingdom)
The Origins and History of Anglesey Abbey
The history of Anglesey Abbey begins with its foundation as the Hospital of St Mary. Established during the reign of Henry I, the site functioned as a priory of Augustinian Canons regular. This monastic existence continued until 1536, when the priory was closed during the dissolution of the monasteries. Following this period of transition, the property was granted to a lawyer named John Hynde approximately three years later. The estate has undergone many transformations since those early centuries. The current National Trust property in the village of Lode, Cambridgeshire, England, encompasses a country house, a working mill, and 98 acres of landscaped grounds. The site has evolved from its religious origins into a private residence, shaped by the hands of many who occupied the land. Lord Fairhaven held the property until his death in 1966, at which time Anglesey Abbey was left to the National Trust.
The Architecture and Building of the House
The house is a Jacobean-style residence with a layered history that begins long before its current form. It is a Grade I-listed building constructed upon the remains of a monastic priory, once the home of Augustinian Canons regular. This foundation provides a sense of continuity between the medieval past and the later domestic evolution of the site. The structure reflects the transition from a religious institution to a grand country home, with the physical presence of the priory still informing the character of the estate. This wing contains the Abbey Room, the Ship Room, the Business Room, and the Library. Private quarters are distributed through various themed spaces, such as the Newmarket Bedroom, the Cambridge Room, the Queens Bedroom, and the Windsor Room, alongside the Quy Room. These rooms, along with the associated bathrooms, maintain the atmosphere of a lived-in English home. A two-storey picture gallery, designed by Sir Albert Richardson and completed in 1956, provides a dedicated space for the display of fine works.
Famous paintings in Anglesey Abbey: the listAnglesey Abbey: entry and 186 works
Ranking method
Scope: artists with at least two works of Anglesey Abbey recorded in our catalogue. Order: recognition, measured by the number of Wikipedia language editions with an article on the artist, the visits to the artist's WikiOO.org entry and an editorial ranking. Counts refer to our catalogue (one record per work; details, studies and copies excluded), not to the museum's inventory. Dates, birthplaces and movements are taken from the artist's record; notes are extracted from the biography.
See also (lists)