Constable | Various subjects of landscape, London, 1830, original leather, signed by Constable

John Constable

Various subjects of landscape, characteristic of English scenery, from pictures painted by John Constable, R.A. engraved by David Lucas. London: Mr Constable, sold by Colnaghi, 1830

oblong folio (285 x 425mm.), two mezzotint frontispieces (one entitled "Vignette"), 20 mezzotint plates, 4 printed text leaves (title-page, preliminary poem, list of engravings and introduction by Constable), SIGNED BY CONSTABLE on the title-page ("John Constable R.A."), contemporary limp leather binding, gilt border with gilt lettering on upper cover, occasional light foxing, upper joint torn, spine repaired, extremities rubbed

Constable's series of plates of the English landscape was originally issued in parts from 1830 to 1832. Although considered a commercial failure at the time, Constable's prints have been recently reassessed in their context of contemporary printmaking; see Felicity Myrone, '"No mercenary views"? Constable's English Landscape', Tate Papers no.33 (2020).