John Constable

The close collaboration between John Constable and his mezzotint engraver, David Lucas was one of the most successful artist/engraver relationships in the history of British printmaking. John Constable would provide the initial conception for each image and David Lucas would interpret his ideas onto the plate, producing a progress proof at each stage of the engraving for Constable to advise upon, or correct and retouch, until the image was complete. These touched early progress proofs are the most sought after printed works in John Constable’s artistic œuvre, displaying both the process through which his images were developed and the richest quality of the fresh mezzotint burr.