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Lost Constable Drawings Emerge Near His 250th Birthday
30 May
Summary
- Five previously unknown John Constable drawings discovered.
- Art expert confirmed drawings are by the master himself.
- Each drawing is now valued between £10,000 and £25,000.
Five previously unknown drawings by the renowned artist John Constable have been discovered near the 250th anniversary of his birth. A British art dealer, Alexander Clayton-Payne, identified the works while browsing online German auctions and purchased them for £5,000. These five drawings, previously uncatalogued and part of a private German collection, have been authenticated by Anne Lyles, a leading Constable authority.
Valued between £10,000 and £25,000 each, the artworks are believed to originate from Constable's formative years around East Bergholt, Suffolk. One depicts a familiar landscape with cattle and the local church, while another shows a cottage roof. These discoveries mark a significant addition to Constable scholarship, particularly as they date from a crucial period of artistic maturity for the artist.
The drawings are now on public display for the first time as part of Classic Art London, running from June 22 to July 3. A special talk titled "Constable at 250" will also be held, featuring Anne Lyles as a panelist. The exact reason for the drawings' presence in Germany remains unclear, though speculation suggests a British collector may have relocated them.
