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Lot Essay
Constable executed a series of drawings, mainly of shipping, during his voyage in the East Indiaman Coutts from London to Deal in April 1803, commanded by his father's friend Captain Torin. He left the ship shortly before 6 May when it sailed for China. Leslie records that there were about 130 drawings in total but because 'The ship was such a scene of confusion, when I left her, that although I had done my drawings up very carefully, I left them behind.' The sketches were recovered. Forty-seven of them are listed by G. Reynolds, op.cit., nos. 03.5-03.51.
The drawings from Constable's time on the Coutts, are on several different white laid writing papers from a variety of makers. The number of drawings executed at this time and the range of papers used suggest that while he had taken some paper on board with him, he ran out and had to obtain a further supply from other people on board. The present drawing is on a sheet made by Thomas Wickwar at either Colthrop Mill or Bangor Mill, Berkshire. Other Wickwar papers from the group are Reynolds, op.cit. nos. 03.10, 03.13, 03.15, 03.26 and 03.27. The drawing, like others from the series, has a fixative of Constable's own devising which was applied to protect the graphite.
The drawings from Constable's time on the Coutts, are on several different white laid writing papers from a variety of makers. The number of drawings executed at this time and the range of papers used suggest that while he had taken some paper on board with him, he ran out and had to obtain a further supply from other people on board. The present drawing is on a sheet made by Thomas Wickwar at either Colthrop Mill or Bangor Mill, Berkshire. Other Wickwar papers from the group are Reynolds, op.cit. nos. 03.10, 03.13, 03.15, 03.26 and 03.27. The drawing, like others from the series, has a fixative of Constable's own devising which was applied to protect the graphite.