David Lucas, “A Sea Beach”, 1830, after John Constable

David Lucas (1802–1881)

“A Sea Beach” (aka “A Seabeach” [as titled in the plate]), 1830, mezzotint after an oil sketch dated c.1824 by John Constable (1776–1837), from a series of mezzotints published by John Constable, described by the Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum as “one of the most important series of mezzotints ever to be published”, “English Landscape” (aka “Various Subjects of English Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery, from Pictures Painted by John Constable, R.A.”); see a description of this series offered by the V&A: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1357423/a-seabeach-print-constable-john-ra/.

Note that this impression is from the rare first edition published by John Constable in 1830 (as lettered in plate below the title) before the more common Bohn edition published in 1855.

Mezzotint on laid paper, trimmed along the platemark and backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 18.9 x 25.3 cm; (image borderline) 14 x 22 cm.

Lettered in plate below the image borderline: (left) “Painted by John Constable.”; (centre) “A SEABEACH./London Pub^d. by M^r. Constable. 35. Charlotte S^t. Fitzroy Square.1830.”; (right) Engraved by David Lucas.”

Condition: a strong and near faultless impression in a near pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions or significant stains, trimmed along the platemark and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this masterwork of mezzotint that the V&A explains was designed by Constable (along with the other 21 mezzotints in the series) “to highlight nature’s guiding principle of chiaroscuro showing the influence of light and shadow upon landscape” (op. cit.), for AU$346 in total (currently US$236.81/EUR214.6/GBP180.05 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU$346) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this rare and important mezzotint, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.