*** START PRICE IS THE RESERVE ***
CONSTABLE, John (1776-1837).
Hulks on the Medway, 1803.
Pencil and blue wash on paper. Preparatory study for “His Magesty’s ship Victory in the memorable Battle of Trafalgar.” 
4 1/2” x 9 1/2” sheet, 14” x 19” framed.
Provenance: With Hahns, 1962, purchased by J. S. Mass, London.
This watercolor is an exciting discovery and a unique addition to Constable’s oeuvre. The only known drawing executed in preparation for Constable’s large watercolor, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1806, His Majesty’s ship Victory in the memorable Battle of Trafalgar (V & A Museum, London). The angle of the right-hand ship and its perspective are close to that of the ship depicted on the right of the finished composition. The attribution is supported by the inscription ‘J. Constable’ on the reverse, which appears to be in the hand of Archdeacon John Fisher. The Archdeacon was the artist’s closest friend and the owner of major works by Constable. An identical inscription appears as a pencil addition to a pen drawing by Constable in one of Fisher’s own sketchbooks (private collection).