David Lucas, “A Sea Beach”, 1830, after John Constable

David Lucas (1802–1881)

“A Sea Beach” (aka “A Seabeach” [as titled in the plate]), 1830, mezzotint after an oil sketch dated c.1824 by John Constable (1776–1837), from a series of mezzotints published by John Constable, described by the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum as “one of the most important series of mezzotints ever to be published”, “English Landscape” (aka “Various Subjects of English Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery, from Pictures Painted by John Constable, R.A.”); see a description of this series offered by the V&A: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1357423/a-seabeach-print-constable-john-ra/.

Note that this impression is from the rare first edition published by John Constable in 1830 (as lettered in plate below the title) before the more common Bohn edition published in 1855.

Mezzotint on laid paper, trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.9 x 25.3 cm; (image borderline) 14 x 22 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Painted by John Constable.”; (centre) “A SEABEACH./London Pub^d. by M^r. Constable. 35. Charlotte S^t. Fitzroy Square.1830.”; (right) Engraved by David Lucas.”

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains, trimmed along the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this masterwork of mezzotint that the V&A explains was designed by Constable (along with the other 21 mezzotints in the series) “to highlight nature’s guiding principle of chiaroscuro showing the influence of light and shadow upon landscape” (op. cit.), for AU$346 in total (currently US$236.81/EUR214.6/GBP180.05 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$346) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare and important mezzotint, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

David Lucas’ mezzotint, “Hampstead Heath, Harow in the Distance”, 1845

David Lucas (1802-1881)

“Hampstead Heath, Harow in the Distance”, 1845, after John Constable’s (1776–1837) painting, “View of Hampstead Heath. Child’s Hill, Harrow in the distance”, 1824 (see https://rkd.nl/en/explore/images/288850), plate 10 from a series of forty mezzotints published by Henry George Bohn (1796–1884) in 1855 in “English Landscape Scenery: A Series of Forty Mezzotinto Engravings on Steel, by David Lucas. From Pictures Painted by John Constable, R.A.”. Note that this mezzotint was republished in 1993 with the title removed (see https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/constable-lucas-hampstead-heath-harrow-in-the-distance-t06757).

Mezzotint (steel plate) with drypoint printed on heavy wove paper.

Size: (sheet) 27.6 x 32.8 cm; (plate) 17.6 x 21 cm; (image borderline) 14 x 17.8 cm.

Numbered in plate above the image borderline: (right) ”10”.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “John Constable. R.A.”; (centre) “Hampstead Heath, Harrow in the distance”; (right) “David Lucas.”

Shirley 47 (Andrew Shirley 1930, “The Published Mezzotints of David Lucas After John Constable, R.A.”, Clarendon Press); Hill 1985, no.28 (see https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/constable-lucas-hampstead-heath-harrow-in-the-distance-t04073).

See also the description of this print from a trial state offered by the British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1846-1114-34.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression. Beyond minor marks in the margin, the sheet is in a good condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this mezzotint translation of Constable painting of the same scene—note that this print is far more than a reproduction of Constable’s painting, as Lucas has introduced some significant changes such as the addition of grasses at lower left—for AU$236 (currently US$152.70/EUR153.30/GBP134.22 at the time of posting this print) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this luminous mezzotint, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

David Lucas’ mezzotint (with drypoint and dot roulette), “A Summerland”, 1829, after Constable

David Lucas (1802–1881)

“A Summerland” (aka “A Summerland, Rainy Day; Ploughmen–Noon”), 1829, after John Constable (1776–1837) pre-publication proof from the series of 22 mezzotints published in “Various Subjects of English Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery, from Pictures Painted by John Constable, R.A.” (aka “English Landscape”), part IV, November 1831.

Mezzotint, drypoint and dot roulette on wove paper trimmed close to the image borderline and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (support sheet) 32.4 x 40.7 cm; (sheet) 17.4 x 23.6 cm; (image borderline) 15.2 x 22.7 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Painted by John Constable.R^.A.”; (centre) “A SUMMERLAND./ London Pub^d. By M^r. Constable,35. Charlott S^t. Fitzroy Square, 1831.”; (right) “Engraved by David Lucas.”

Shirley 10, progress proof, fourth state between Shirley g and h Wedmore 15 (see https://sublimesites.co/2018/10/17/john-constable-david-lucas-and-a-summerland-part-2-the-progress-proofs-a-c/).

The V&A offer a marvellous account of this print and its background: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1356336/a-summerland-print-constable-john-ra/; see also the various impressions of this print held by the museum: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?q=Summerland&year_made_from=&year_made_to=.

The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) offers the following insights about this print: “Lucas began the plate for 'A summerland' before 26 December 1829 when Constable requested four proofs of it (Beckett IV, p. 323). He based it on the first version of 'A ploughing scene in Suffolk' (A summerland) 1814. He made at least eight progress proof variations before the published state …” (https://nga.gov.au/exhibition/constable/Detail.cfm?IRN=145026)

The Boston Museum of Fine Arts in their “Bulletin” from August 1918 (vol. XVI, no. 96) offers the interesting insight: “The ideal aim of ‘English Landscape’ is, in Constable's own words: ‘to display the phenomena of the Chiaroscuro of Nature ... to point out its vast influence upon landscape, and to show its use and power as a medium of expression’... also ‘to promote the love and consequent study of the Scenery of our Country ...’" (https://archive.org/details/jstor-4169661/page/n1/mode/2up).

In the same article from the Boston Museum’s “Bulletin”, this print is discussed and attention is given to the earlier impressions such as this rare “'Pre-Bohn” impression (based on the address line): “[A Summerland] … with its massive, horizontal sweep, its dark woods with crisp minute lights in the foliage, its airy, luminous cloud bank; in all of which that peculiar skill with minute details characteristic of Lucas’ mezzotints, appears at its best at first, when the rocking was quite fresh and sharp, yielding the velvety blacks and the evanescent, pale grays essential to the effect desired.” (op cit.)

Condition: a strong proof impression trimmed close to the image borderline and laid onto a sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. The sheet is in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains.

I am selling this exceptionally rare proof-state impression from the series of mezzotints described by the V&A as “one of the most important series of mezzotints ever to be published” (see V&A inv. no. E.823-2016), for the total cost of AU$334 (currently US$236.29/EUR209.07/GBP177.82 at the time of posting this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this very fine luminous impression of a major mezzotint by Lucas, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold