John Constable, R.A.

Dr H.A.C. Gregory, M.C.:
his sale, London, Sotheby's, 20 July 1949, lot 87;
with Agnew's, London

Aldeburgh, Sandhill, John Constable, 1948, no. 32
London, The Arts Council of Great Britain, An Exhibition of Sketches & Drawings by John Constable from the Collection of Dr. H.A.C. Gregory, 1949, no. 35

This work is in very good condition. The pencil is strong and fresh and the paper is not discoloured. There is the occasional very soft crease, but this can only be seen on very close inspection and in a raking light. The drawing is not laid down.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

It has been convincingly suggested that this lively drawing dates to the late summer of 1817, when Constable and his new wife, Maria, were staying with members of the family on an extended holiday in Suffolk. Although this drawing has previously been identified as depicting the river Orwell, it may in fact show the river Stour at Mistley. This village was important to the Constable family, as it was from here that grain from their mills was transferred by ship, at first The Telegraph and then The Balloon, to London.

Constable executed two further drawings at Mistley in 1817. One is dated 20^th August and is now in the Louvre, Paris, while the second is in the Victoria and Albert Museum.¹ As in the present work, those drawings include a ship with a tall mast, which has been identified by the scholar, Attfield Brooks, as The Balloon.²

This work was previously owned by Dr H.A.C. Gregory, whose important collection of works by Constable was exhibited at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1948 and at the Arts Council, London, in 1949. We are grateful to Dr Lyles for her help when cataloguing this work.

<sup>1. G. Reynold, The Later Paintings and Drawings of John Constable, Yale 1984, p. 7, no. 1714 & 1715.
2. Ibid</sup>