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

The present drawing is from the same sketchbook as lots 127 and 129. It was executed during Constable's 1809 autumn visit to his Aunt, Martha Smith (1739-1820) who lived in the village of Nayland, Suffolk. This drawing records the measurements for parts of the Reredos and another drawing, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 10.9, pl. 835, shows how his altarpiece would look in situ.

The present drawing's witty inscription 'Pray turn your Mind to some good subject soon' is a rather good natured reference to the difficulty Constable encountered in deciding upon a subject matter. Constable's Uncle, David Pike Watts, wrote to Constable in January 1810 critizing the original choice of The Resurrection and suggesting a copy of a painting by Carlo Dolci at Burleigh, which had been worked in worsted by Miss Mary Linwood. Constable's next plan was to paint The Agony in the Garden, for which there is a sketch in the Louvre sketchbook, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 10.3. By mid July, after further advice from Mr Watts, the subject changed again and Constable settled on the Christ blessing the Elements, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 10.8. Soon after the painting's installation in the church Mr Watts spent an hour contemplating it with his nephew only to send him a list of 25 criticisms in a letter of 24 November 1810, (R.B. Beckett (ed.), John Constable's Correspondance, IV, 1968, pp. 20-22).