Artwork Information

Old Sarum is one of a series of 22 mezzotints created by the printer David Lucas to landscape artist John Constable's, specifications. Originally they were bound in the book Various subjects of Landscape, characteristic of English Scenery, from Pictures Painted by John Constable R. A. better known as English Landscape Scenery. The prints were carried out between 1830 to 1833, and as described by Tate Britain, 'the skilfully rendered plates translate the dramatic atmosphere of Constable's paintings - particularly the cloudy skies - into a velvety palette of dark and light'. From 1829 until his death, Constable became more personally involved in both printmaking and publishing, whereas earlier on in his career he had been happy to leave these activities to professional printmakers. English Landscape was issued in parts at irregular intervals between June 1830 and July 1832. A supplementary series was begun later, but not published in Constable's lifetime. David Lucas also engraved several larger plates on his own initiative and, after Constable's death, some further small plates intended to supplement the series.