John Constable was born in Suffolk. He was an English landscape painter in the romantic tradition. He transformed the genre of landscape painting with his pictures of Dedham Vale and the area surrounding his home – now known as Constable Country.

He was never financially successful, and it was not until the age of 52 that he was elected to the Royal Academy.  His work was embraced in France where he was more popular, and he inspired the Barbizon school.

In 1816 he married Elizabeth Bicknell, whose father, Charles Bicknell, was the solicitor to King George IV and The Admiralty. He was dissatisfied with the match, and he looked upon the Constables as social inferiors.

From 1819 onwards Hampstead rivalled Suffolk and Salisbury as subjects for his art.

Constable lived in Hampstead from 1819 to 1837 in various homes. In 1821 and 1822 he rented 2 Lower Terrace for 4 guineas a week furnished. In 1828 his wife Elizabeth died of tuberculosis after giving birth to their seventh child and Constable was left to raise their seven children alone. Constable died in 1837 and is buried in the churchyard in Church Row with his wife and two of his children.

This plaque was unveiled in July 1986 by Sir Geoffrey Finsberg MP.