1689184860000 1689154294000 Standard Record object-110009134 1747159885549 1706094419000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110009134 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009134 889e0dda-8797-3f99-9a0c-83d70232e86a 3 person reference agent-29619 adlib-agent-29619 ef67fb8d-9a82-3301-9947-b8d0526effb3 Constable, John person reference agent-82139 adlib-agent-82139 5787a108-be4d-3fcb-adb7-368ca6d4dc85 Lucas, David person reference agent-18161 adlib-agent-18161 68e02f48-daf1-3246-b0ff-c0fbbf60d0ed Britton, John content description This is a letter from John Constable to David Lucas, postmarked 29 July 1830. The published transcript of this letter can be found in Shirley (No. 20, page 29-30) and Beckett (page 330). The leaf has been numbered S20, referring to the order in Shirley's publication. A pencil inscription on the leaf reads: ''July 1830''. TRANSCRIPT: --- For Mr David Lucas 57 Harrow Road Corner of Hermatage St Dear Lucas I sent my old man up to you on purpose to releive my suspense respecting the proofs which are deficient especially the large ones, as Sparrow has got them to put together and can not go on. - however I might have spared myself the expense of 1s. & 2d. his charge for any man is come come back without any message - and I am still at a loss about the proofs. remember my man cannot carry a message. though he can a note - !! so you may have given him one. I go to Dulwich to select pictures from the Gallery - I may be back by 5 or 6 - but there is a Council at 8 at the RA. I long to see the Stoke can you take a proof on India paper beside Yours most truly J.C. [Britton?]* just wrote to me saying we are to black - he is too white --- *Shirley is doubtful about the name in the last sentence - he presumes it is Barker. Beckett, however, identifies it as Britton. John Britton was a topographical draftsman who received a copy of the first number of 'English Landscape' in July 1830. Beckett writes that Britton's antiquarian nature made him criticise the darkness in Lucas' work. Beckett notes that Constable replied the following to Britton: ''I think you are quite right in cautioning me, as to the prints of my number being too black. My friend Lucas was a pupil of Reynolds's - and I am knocking Reynolds's black fog out of him as fast as I can. Still you must do us the justice to recollect, that ''chiaroscuro'' is the sole object (almost) of these things - & of my poor style of landscape in general. Perhaps it is rendered too ferocious being without colour. Still I should be insipid without it - and your view of middle tint is equally applicable to your style of subject, namely a delicate rendering of the parts, &c. I thank you at all times for your hints, tempered as they always are with good nature and good sense.... My next number will contain, 'Old Sarum'.'' Beckett believes that Constable referred to this exchange with Britton in the letter postmarked 29 July 1830. Constable/EL/1/1/13 1 accession number Constable/EL/1/1/13 110009134 priref 110009134 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009134 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009134 reference agent-149638 adlib-agent-149638 7376d833-d0a7-3be0-916e-9c892b7a24d8 The Fitzwilliam Museum reference agent-29619 adlib-agent-29619 ef67fb8d-9a82-3301-9947-b8d0526effb3 Constable, John Length mm 185 Width mm 225 MS Letter, Constable to Lucas object OBJECT