1690826446000 1690811948000 Standard Record object-110009198 1747159484853 1711374692000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110009198 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009198 b31a5896-519e-309f-821c-925c8d0ff9ee 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 person reference agent-16648 adlib-agent-16648 48f07f27-338f-355f-8815-ee3a0d13c2c4 Bowyer, Robert content description This is a letter from John Constable to David Lucas, dated 4 November. Beckett, however, suggests that Constable mistakenly put the previous month on the letter. The letter, Beckett believes, is dated 4 December 1831, the birthday of Constable's eldest son (mentioned in the letter). The published transcript of this letter can be found in Shirley (No. 78, page 63) and Beckett (page 360). A pencil inscription on the top reads ‘Nov 4 ? 1832'. TRANSCRIPT: --- Dear Lucas perhaps you had better send the picture of the Glebe farm to Charlotte St where I will if possible try to look it over with your last proof - hopeless as it now is & I know ever must be - How could you dear Lucas think of touching it after bringing me such a proof & without consulting me - had I dreamt of such a thing I should not have slept - besides I wanted at least a dozen of it in that state. I know very well it can be blotched up - with dry point burr, regrounding &c &c but that is hatefull. but I will say no more on so painfull a subject - for I wish you not to be vexed [t/n: 'you' crossed out] it will retard the work - but we must not mind. I am now writing with the two proofs before me an I frankly tell you I could burst into tears - never was there such wreck - do not touch the plate again on any acct [t/n: account] - it is not worth the while. but lose no time in grounding another for I will not so interesting a Five Pitt the subject - it would have saved the 5th No. & was it now in its first state - Glebe farm I would rejoice to publish it just so. picture Nov 4. Yours J.C. As to the London* - it will do very well for the Londoners - & I should not have published it in the work had it not sufficed - but that plate is still safe - what caused you to scrape off - the tree I know not - that dark was most essential there. I could cry for my poor wretched wreck if the Glebe farm - a name that once cheered me in progress - now become painfull to the last degree. As the subject of the Glebe farm is now lost - I have thought of [t/n: 'subj' crossed out] substituting - two new ones - the Old House & ford with a Waggon** - & the Hadleigh Castle - but that we will arrange [t/n: 'at' crossed out] on Tuesday - I could cry at this sad change & that two with the bird once in my hand - I know very well what you will say - that it can soon be brought about - I know better. our ''blasted Heath'' - proves what can be done only - in that way - My opinion cannot change - my experience is now too great - if we keep the G.F. in the book - ground a new plate instanter - This is my dear boy's birth day - this day 14. years gave me my first child - we have had a party - & a feast - but my joy is utterly alloyed by the wreck of my poor Glebe farm - which has not quitted my sight all day though strechd & locked up in a draw[er]. I attend Council tomrrw & leave Ch St [t/n: Charlotte Street] at seven o clock [.] Pitt*** - will take any picture out of your way as he has ''knot & board'' - do not attempt to say [t/n: words deleted] you can bring this Glebe farm about - You may do as You like with it - but not with my assistance - for that is impossible it is far far out of my reach - I grieve for the loss of time - but we have now two plates to begin - and that quickly - do not be abashed - or think I mean to vex you - I mean no nonsense of any kind - I mean only to perfect the work and not to distress You or myself - We will judge on tuesday - [t/n: 'if' deleted] of what two subjects will be next chosen - how could you touch the dear glebe farm - & not even tell me of what you were doing - I wish I could get at that old Villain in Pall Mall**** - I would send him to the Devil before his time - Ever truly yrs J. Constable --- *Both Shirley and Beckett identify this as 'Waterloo Bridge'. **Shirley and Beckett believe this to refer to 'The Hay Wain'. ***Pitt was Constable's messenger. ****Shirley's footnote for this reads: 'Probably Robert Bowyer (1758-1834), whose portraits of William IV and Queen Adelaide Lucas engraved and Bowyer published this year. In a letter, belonging to Mr. P.D. Leslie, Constable writes to Leslie that Bowyer is using Lucas cruelly.' Constable/EL/1/1/62 1 accession number Constable/EL/1/1/62 110009198 priref 110009198 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009198 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009198 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 223 Width mm 181 MS Letter, Constable to Lucas - Glebe Farm object OBJECT