A previously unseen chalk drawing by renowned British landscape artist John Constable will go up for auction for the first time in nearly 200 years. The artwork, created in 1827, depicts Valley Farm in the Suffolk village of Flatford, located near the site of the artist's family mill, and has remained in private ownership since its creation.
The drawing, titled "A House and Haystack at Flatford," is scheduled to be auctioned by Roseberys on Wednesday with an estimated sale price of $25,000 to $37,000. The piece bears Constable's own inscription "Flatford/13 Oct/1827" in the lower right corner, documenting the exact date and location of its creation. The artwork specifically depicts the warden's house at Valley Farm, a Grade I listed building that dates back to the 15th century.
Lara L'vov-Basirov, associate director and head of Old Master, British & European Pictures at Roseberys, praised the work as "wonderfully expressive." She explained that "this wonderfully expressive drawing offers an intimate look at the Suffolk countryside that shaped Constable's aesthetic imagination. With provenance stemming directly from the artist, it's a tangible link to his life and practice."
The drawing has an exceptional provenance that traces directly back to the artist himself. Constable originally gifted the work to his second son, Charles Golding Constable. After Charles's death in 1878, the drawing was passed to a family friend, James Henry Beazley. From that point, the artwork descended directly through private hands to the current owner, never once entering the public market or changing ownership outside of this direct lineage.
John Constable, born in 1776 in East Bergholt, is widely celebrated as one of Britain's most accomplished landscape artists. He became famous for his masterful depictions of the English countryside, particularly scenes from the Dedham Vale region spanning Suffolk and Essex. His father owned Flatford Mill, and the area served as inspiration for many of his most celebrated works, including his most famous painting, "The Hay Wain," which was set near the family mill.
Constable passed away in London in 1837, leaving behind a legacy of artwork that captured the natural beauty of rural England. This upcoming auction represents a rare opportunity for collectors and art enthusiasts to acquire a piece with such direct historical connection to the artist and his creative process, having remained hidden from public view for almost two complete centuries.
