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Mezzotint, 1831, engraved by David Lucas. A progress proof, before considerable lightening in the foreground and sky. Before all letters.
A fine impression on laid paper, with very wide margins. Foxed in the plate margins. This subject was engraved for the Frontispiece to English Landscape Scenery. The engraving shows the house built by Constable’s father in 1774, two years before Constable’s birth, with appropriately, an artist sketching in the foreground. (The painting on which the engraving is based is not known.) In the Letterpress which accompanied the engraving in the published state, Constable extolled his personal delight in the beauty of the area and the happiness of his childhood and youth there. He stressed his intimate association with the place and its importance to his artistic development. “This spot saw the day spring of my Life, Hours of joy, and years of Happiness. This place first tinged my boyish fancy with a love of art. This place was the origin of my fame.” |
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Mezzotint, c1832, engraved by David Lucas. Lettered with the artists’ names and the title. Bohn edition, 1855. On wove paper. A few intrinsic ink blots in the sky. The figure on the horse is Constable’s father. Though engraved with the main series of prints, Constable did not include Willy Lott’s House in the first series of English Landscape Scenery. It was only issued posthumously, being first published by David Lucas in his 2nd Series of Constable’s English Landscape Scenery, 1846. |
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William George Jennings was a close friend of John Constable and the two artists shared a house. Jennings bought two paintings from him, 'Yarmouth Jetty' and 'Hampstead Heath with Rainbow'. The latter was painted for Jennings and is now in the Tate Gallery.
Like Constable, Jennings had a particular attachment to Hampstead Heath and he produced many oil sketches and watercolours depicting the subject. Provenance: From an album of fifteen oil paintings on paper inscribed 'Hampstead 1828 – oil sketches'. Exhibited: 'Works... by William George Jennings', Krios Gallery. 1981, no. 129. |