John Constable, R.A. (East Bergholt, Suffolk 1776-1837 Hampstead)

A girl reading

Details

John Constable, R.A. (East Bergholt, Suffolk 1776-1837 Hampstead)
A girl reading
pencil, fragmentary watermark '1805', on paper
6 x 6 7/8 in. (15.2 x 17.5 cm.)

Provenance

Hugh Constable, the artist's grandson, purchased from Hugh Constable's collection by Leggatt Bros by October 1899.
Sir Harry Baldwin C.V.O, 37 Cavendish Square.
Sir Robert Witt, given by him to James Byam Shaw, 1936.
Mrs J. Byam Shaw.
with Agnew's, London.

Literature

G. Reynolds, The Early Paintings and Drawings of John Constable, 1996, no. 06.181, p. 97, pl. 559.

Exhibited

London, W/S Fine Art, Summer 2011, no. 27.

Brought to you by

Harriet West

hwest@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2541

Lot Essay

This drawing is one of a number of figure drawings made by Constable in or around 1806. The subjects for which were taken from his close circle of friends. In 1806 he visited the Cobbold, Hobson and Gubbins families; he also painted portraits of members of the Harden and Lloyd families. The majority of the studies are of women and children. A drawing of a similar character to the present drawing, Joshua Hobson reading on a Window Sea, was shown at the National Portrait Gallery, London, Constable Portraits, 2009, no. 18.

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