1692900057000 1692874522000 Standard Record object-110009890 1747159484860 1722868210000 1747159409017 adlib fitz-online adlib-object-110009890 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009890 9f3cd8e0-84af-398b-9e67-921bb3f65ba0 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-127143 adlib-agent-127143 5809bc32-f751-3d98-932c-b2871a71a534 Smirke, Robert person reference agent-79000 adlib-agent-79000 52123404-7183-3c51-8f57-7a5d2750afad Leslie, Charles Robert person reference agent-207344 adlib-agent-207344 d0fdc8a7-5b4d-33fe-bd99-290e065c4426 Boner, Charles person reference agent-145413 adlib-agent-145413 1bd9266f-c15f-3f5c-ba9a-143eb79b8e85 Wilkie, David content description This is a letter from John Constable to David Lucas, dated 16 December 1834. The published transcript of this letter can be found in Shirley (No. 161, page 120) and Beckett (page 415). The leaf has been numbered S161, referring to the order in Shirley's publication. A pencil inscription on the top reads ‘Dec. 1834'. TRANSCRIPT: --- Dear Lucas I return you the picture without loss of time - but with many regrets at what has so uselessly occurred by this unlooked for misunderstanding, which I trust will entirely end here - it has I hope had no time to take root - therefore the more easily forgot & the sooner the better - I own dear Lucas that my sad impetuosity has in this instance / as well as in all others / led me to such conclusions which I now I fully beleive I was unwarranted in coming to - I was driven by it [t/n: 'rather' crossed out] to anticipate evils that / I really at the time thought / might come rather than what = did really exist - but you have set me at rest - and so far as yourself is concerned my mind is releived - I never either wished or expected You You not engage in any work. You pleased but I left to Your honour and leave it so still wether for both our sakes You should engage to make - ''centers'' - ''imitations'' - ''companions'' - of my works [?]* to my style in Landscape - this by your excellent art to enhance common place for the good of publishers, to our disgrace and ruin - this courtesie I expect from you and no other - and I know as long as you keep your independence it will not be [t/n: 'so' crossed out] otherwise - at present I know you have nobly refused [t/n: 'so' crossed out] all requests - so unfair - so ungenerous - so perfideous - - I was alarmed - and my behaviour [^] & conduct was wholly directed by that alarm taken in a [t/n: word deleted] moment of surprise as I was [t/n: word deleted] 'tis my style and your admirable mode of rendering that style of which I am so watchfull & jealous. of this perhaps I have now said enough - Of your regard for me Dear Lucas - I shall never have a doubt - even under [t/n: 'all' crossed out] any circumstances - and of the sincerity of you love for my things in Landscape - [t/n: 'You can give' crossed out] there can be no greater proof than the manner in which You have rendered them - and the disinterestedness in which you have undertaken [t/n: word deleted] such considerable works - at your own risk - and that of your family and reputation = and Dear Lucas as to obligations they are mutual - reciprocal - and fairly balanced on both sides - My man Joseph is waiting in the hall with the picture - and I hasten to conclude this note - and [^] I do so in that christian spirit - which I desire to possess - but which is in you is better rooted than in me - let what has passed rather add to our friendship than shake it - for we have a bond of friendship - even here that all do not possess - a union of feeling in Art and a mutual regard for the talents of each of which we have sufficient proofs - in the lovely amalgamation of our works - I mentioned to Wilkie how much you would like to engrave something from him - he has a noble one in hand - Columbus & the Monk - 5 figures - I told him how well you had done with Smirkes = ''Lady Pentweazle'' - I am going to Leslies to dinner - Boner has told you not to blanch the lights quite so much [^] in the prints - it is complained of - My Glebe farm is going away - sold to Mr Constable of [t/n: word deleted] Arundel - the picture is a favourite but it chose its possessor - Yours dear Lucas truly 16 Decr 1834 John Constable. --- *Shirley reads this word as 'affronting', while Beckett reads it as 'approaching'. Constable/EL/1/1/127 1 accession number Constable/EL/1/1/127 110009890 priref 110009890 uri https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009890 https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/110009890 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 185 MS Letter, Constable to Lucas object OBJECT