1692813645000 1692806155000 Standard Record object-110009889 1747160955754 1722861100000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110009889 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009889 2d1fe3db-303a-3e89-8d5e-618fff647c6a 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 content description This is an undated letter from John Constable to David Lucas. The published transcript of this letter can be found in Shirley (No. 159, page 118) and Beckett (page 413). Beckett places between 11 December and 16 December 1834. The leaf has been numbered S159, referring to the order in Shirley's publication. A pencil inscription on the top reads ‘? Octr 1833'. TRANSCRIPT: --- Dear Lucas It was left to your own option the return of the picture - to be sure I noticed at the time that you told me you began it only as I had been at the trouble and expence of getting from Salisbury for you - I am sorry I laid myself under so great an obligation to these people. - but I should be still more sorry if a loss occurs to you in the ground so far as you have gone and if you desire to finish your plate - the picture shall be sent back to you - without loss of time - as the leave of absence is by no means expired - you are well aware that it is far enough from my inclination to injure you, but I want to prevent you from injuring yourself, and me with you - I should like to get things that weigh on my mind clear of it - and the retaining the property of is not one of the least - and besides I feel dayly that I do not get younger - though God preserves me in great health - I cannot but be greived to see how little account you seem to set on yourself - and which proportionably involves the welfare of your friend - myself - who now to [t/n: 'my' crossed out] his beleif [t/n: 'ever' crossed out] withheld one act of kindness or regard from you - I do not mean to say - that your own talent and industry would not have done every thing for you - still - even then there is at least a consideration due to those who help to adjust the foot to the ''first step''. In return I say - I did not expect your support - not the contrary certainly - I felt justified in making my last demands on you when I found / though not unexpectedly / to what things had come to - after you told me what you were ''in for'' - and what had been suggested to you to perpetrate - but I will do [^] you the justice to say that your refused it in part - at this time - at least - We have all our foibles and our failings [.] [t/n: 'Your' crossed out] a love of many has seemed always to me to be yours - take care lest it lead you to abandon that [t/n: 'that' crossed out] independency of spirit - those habits of pains taking - to which I once so much delighted to administer all the encouragement in my power, in all ways - this made you an artist - and from this source emanated your two most beautifull prints - I now offer this (perhaps) my last advice - that you [^] study to preserve this [t/n: word deleted] moral feeling - in [^] art it can have no better name. I could tell you much more - but - you are not in that state of mind in which it could be either relished or understood - if I am not greatly in error - What return may I ask could I look for in you - more than that which is reciprocal - You has [t/n: word deleted] no other way to return the great and irretrievable loss I have sustained [t/n: 'by your' crossed out] than in supporting my art - and this you could best do by supporting your own self and independence in Art - I mean by my loss - my unfortunate book - a dead loss of at least 600£ - besides full a hundred at Sparrow's - in consequence of it. but of this latter of course you had nothing to do - beleive me Dear Lucas always yours most sincerely John Constable. How for some wise purpose is every bit of sunshine clouded over [^] in me - I can never now look at these two flattering testimonies of the result of my singularly marked life - I cannot look at them without the most painfull emotions - blighted as [^] are these fair landscapes by the base passions of cupidity - J.C. --- Constable/EL/1/1/126 1 accession number Constable/EL/1/1/126 110009889 priref 110009889 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009889 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009889 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 230 Width mm 186 MS Letter, Constable to Lucas object OBJECT