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Lot Essay
This drawing is a study for the oil painting of Wivenhoe Park in the National Gallery, Washington.
Constable's earliest drawing at Wivenhoe is recorded on 27 July 1816, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 16.19, and he remained there throughout August and September also executing Reynolds, op.cit., nos. 16.30 and 17.4 for General Francis Slater-Rebow. The present drawing includes much of the composition of the oil painting Wivenhoe Park, Essex, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 17.4, now at Washington, but the scene depicted in the oil extends to the left and right of the composition following the instruction of Constable's client to extend the composition. Reynolds suggests that the pencil drawing was executed in the summer of 1816, when Constable was working on his exhibition picture. However it is suggested in the Tate Gallery catalogue that stylistic affinities of the drawing with Reynolds, op.cit., no. 17.18 might suggest that the drawing was made after the completion of the oil painting, in August 1817.
Wivenhoe Park is now the site of the University of Essex. Wivenhoe House was built by the Rebow family and designed by Thomas Reynolds in the mid-eighteenth century. The Park was designed in 1765 by Richard Woods and the two lakes constructed in 1777 as part of the design, the work was completed in 1781. The Rebows were originally Belgian Huguenots who had establised a milling business in Colchester. In 1796, Mary Hester Rebow married General Francis Slater, who then assumed the Rebow name.
The University of Essex are mounting an exhibition next year entitled Constable and Wivenhoe Park and have requested the loan of this drawing.
Constable's earliest drawing at Wivenhoe is recorded on 27 July 1816, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 16.19, and he remained there throughout August and September also executing Reynolds, op.cit., nos. 16.30 and 17.4 for General Francis Slater-Rebow. The present drawing includes much of the composition of the oil painting Wivenhoe Park, Essex, Reynolds, op.cit., no. 17.4, now at Washington, but the scene depicted in the oil extends to the left and right of the composition following the instruction of Constable's client to extend the composition. Reynolds suggests that the pencil drawing was executed in the summer of 1816, when Constable was working on his exhibition picture. However it is suggested in the Tate Gallery catalogue that stylistic affinities of the drawing with Reynolds, op.cit., no. 17.18 might suggest that the drawing was made after the completion of the oil painting, in August 1817.
Wivenhoe Park is now the site of the University of Essex. Wivenhoe House was built by the Rebow family and designed by Thomas Reynolds in the mid-eighteenth century. The Park was designed in 1765 by Richard Woods and the two lakes constructed in 1777 as part of the design, the work was completed in 1781. The Rebows were originally Belgian Huguenots who had establised a milling business in Colchester. In 1796, Mary Hester Rebow married General Francis Slater, who then assumed the Rebow name.
The University of Essex are mounting an exhibition next year entitled Constable and Wivenhoe Park and have requested the loan of this drawing.