1689876054000 1689847706000 Standard Record object-110009171 1747160954920 1710156181000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110009171 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009171 159bb7a5-580b-3a6a-be40-d3ff2c93def6 4 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 content description This is a letter from John Constable to David Lucas, dated 12 March 1831. The published transcript of this letter can be found in Shirley (No. 47, page 46) and Beckett (page 344-345). The leaf has been numbered S47, referring to the order in Shirley's publication. TRANSCRIPT: --- March 12. 1831 Dear Lucas My indisposition sadly worries and makes [^] me think (perhaps [too?] darkly) on almost every subject - nevertheless - my ''seven infants'', my time of life, and state of health, and other serious matters, make me desirous of lightening my mind as much as possible of unnecessary oppression - as I fear it is already too overweighted. I have thought much on my book and all my reflections on the subject oppress me - its duration - its expence its hopelessness of remuneration - all are unfavourable - added to which I now discover that the printsellers ''are watching it as their lawfull prey'' - and they alone could help me - for ''I cannot dig - & to beg I am ashamed''. I can only dispose of it by giving it away. My plan is to make the whole no. of plates now in hand only to form the book by which I see we have about twenty*. the three present no.s make 12. others began are about eight or ten more - some of which may not be resumed & we must begin the [t/n: word deleted] frontispiece [t/n: 'In' crossed out] I am led to conclude of this definition of our book - finding that it grievously harrasses my days - and disturbs my rest of [t/n: previously 'at'] nights - The expence is too enormous for a work that has nothing but your beautifull feeling and execution to recommend it - the painter himself is totally unpopular and ever will be - on this side the grave [t/n: 'at least' crossed out] certainly. the subjects nothing - but ''the Art'' and [t/n: 'the' crossed out] ''buyers'' are totally ignorant of that - I am harrassed by the [t/n: 'legt' crossed out] lengthened prospect of its duration - which seems quite undefined therefore I am come to my first plan = of 20, including frontispiece & Vignette - & we can now see our way out of the Wood - I can bear this perhaps - because I then know the worst. I can ear the irritation of delay - (from which I have suffered so much that I attribute my present illness to it in part -) no longer - consider, not a real fortnight's work has been done towards the whole in the last four months - years upon years must roll on to produce the 20 prints - & all this time I shall not sell a copy - but must stand ready to part with every fifty or hundred pounds of my ready money - till it comes to £1000. Remember dear Lucas I mean not nor think not one reflection on you - every thing with the plan is my own - and I want to relieve my mind of that which now harrasses it like a disease - & looking forward as I now do I think of it with delight as an occupation though utterly hopeless in its result - [t/n: 'I will' crossed out] [^] do not for a moment think I blame you - [t/n: '&' crossed out] or that I do not sympathize with you in those lamentable causes of hindrance which have afflicted your home** - nobody will do me me any good - even that man who thinks he is sure of going to heaven - by dipping his arse under water - I mean [t/n: 'Wight' crossed out] Mr White*** of brownlow Street - offers to propagate & guarantee the money for Turner & his liber Stupidorum for 15 per cent - & will not do the same for me under 35 pr Ct. therefore let protect ourselves - by drawing the circle a little closer - & compleate & that as rapidly as possible whatever is began - [t/n: 'th' crossed out] be these what they are. we have no really bad subjects amongst them at least one is as good as another of them & let us get them out of hand - the sooner the better - Pray let me see you soon - I am not wholly unable to work thank God - I hope poor Mrs Lucas is better - Dr Davis has been to see me & my poor boy John - who is very ill [.] Mr Drew giving me medicin & pills - so that both of their medicins (which I take together) may get me well at double quick time - Yours truly - John Constable --- *Shirley identifies the twenty plates as - 'Spring', 'Dedham Mill', 'Weymouth Bay', 'Helmingham Dell', 'Stoke-by-Neyland', 'Old Sarum', 'Sea Beach, Brighton', 'Noon', 'Summer Morning', 'Summer Evening', 'Heath', 'View on the Orwell', 'Summerland', 'River Stour', 'Head of a Lock', 'White Horse', 'Yarmouth Pier', 'Glebe Farm', 'Autumnal Sunset, and 'Mill Stream'. Shirley also notes that 'The Jaques' may also have been started by this time. **Beckett reads this word as 'house'. ***Beckett presumes Mr White to be a Baptist, and writes 'Constable disliked all Dissenters'. Beckett (pages 345-346) mentions that six days after this letter (i.e., 18 March 1831), Constable made a payment of £10 to Lucas - this was the only payment made since 19 January 1831. Constable/EL/1/1/35 1 accession number Constable/EL/1/1/35 110009171 priref 110009171 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009171 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009171 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 220 Width mm 184 MS Letter, Constable to Lucas object OBJECT