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THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE GEORGE GOYDER, C.B.E. Lots 43-57 George Goyder (1908-1997) was the Managing Director of British International Paper Ltd from 1935-1971, as well as General Manager of the Newsprint Supply Company, during World War II and the period immediatedly thereafter (1940-47), responsibilities for which included the supply and rationing of newsprint to the British Press. His many interests lead him into varying fields including involvement with The Geographical Magazine (1935-58), membership of the General Synod of the Church of England (1948-75) and Chairmanship of the Liberal Party Standing Committee on Industrial Partnership, and Governor of Mill Hill School (1943-69). Despite his many commitments, Goyder also found time to write a number of publications including, The Future of Private Enterprise, 1951 and 1954, The Responsible Company, 1961, The People's Church, 1966, and The Responsible Worker, 1975. Among his many hobbies were music, collecting old books, and theology. As a scholar and collector he worked with Sir Geoffrey Keynes to establish the Blake Trust. He also formed a library of first editions documenting the Reformation, the development and concept of Natural Law, and the theory of usury. In addition to forming a fine collection of watercolours he collected Bibles, antique furniture and model trains and was known to play the accordion. Many of the watercolours in the collection were purchased from Agnew's where Goyder was an enthusiatic and regular visitor.

John Constable, R.A. (1776-1837)

Stratford Mill, Suffolk

Details

John Constable, R.A. (1776-1837)
Stratford Mill, Suffolk
pencil, corners cut
4 x 5½ in. (10.2 x 14 cm.)

Provenance

Possibly Archdeacon John Fisher, presented by the artist.
Anon. sale; Christie's, London, 18 June 1980, lot 42.
with Agnew's, London, circa, 1981.

Literature

L. Parris, 'Some Recently Discovered Oil Sketches by John Constable', Burlington Magazine, CXXV, April 1983, p. 223, no. 15.
G. Reynolds, The Later Paintings and Drawings of John Constable, Newhaven and London, 1984, p. 45, no. 20. 5, pl. 133.

Exhibited

London, Agnew's, 108th Annual Exhibition of Watercolours and Drawings, 1981, no. 162.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis This lot is subject to Collection and Storage charges

Lot Essay

No other pencil study of the composition is known and the present drawing differs in only minor details from the picture. This may suggest that is was made after the painting, rather than as a preparatory sketch. The Reverend Fisher had taken a keen interest in Constable's painting of Stratford Mill from the time of it's inception (see Fisher's letter 14 April 1820, R.B. Beckett, John Constable's Correspondance, 1968, vol. VI, p. 52.).

Fisher bought the oil painting (National Gallery, London) from Constable to present to his lawyer J.P. Tinney, as a reward for success on his behalf in a law suit and he helped to organise its loan back to Constable in 1824.

The use of an apparently blunt pencil is unusual; it is found in two other drawings of 1820. The treatment of the sky may also be compared with that in the drawings of this period, for example Reynolds op.cit. no. 201 of Downton Church, of which there is also an inscribed copy by Fisher.

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