A drawing on paper by John Constable, which remained for almost two centuries among the artist’s family and friends, has resurfaced at auction in London, exceeding expectations and reigniting interest in works on paper with direct provenance.
How much did the work achieve at auction?
On November 13, 2025, the auction house Roseberys sold A House and Haystack at Flatford for £71,740 (about €81,784), in the Old Master, British & European Pictures sale.
Moreover, the estimate of £20,000–30,000 was more than doubled thanks to a fierce competition between online and phone bidders.
| Auction house | Roseberys, Old Master, British & European Pictures |
| Estimate | £20,000–30,000 |
| Achieved | £71,740 (about €81,784) |
What is the provenance of the drawing?
Dated October 13, 1827, and inscribed with the location, the drawing was given to the artist’s second son, Charles Golding Constable. The scene concerns Flatford, near Suffolk.
However, after Charles’s death in 1878, it passed to his widow Anna Maria Constable (née Blundell) and later to the family friend James Henry Beazley. A label on the back notes that the gift was made in gratitude for a small favor. Since then, the work has remained in the Beazley lineage and has never appeared on the market.
What does the drawing depict?
The subject is the Warden’s House, also known as Valley Farm, a 15th-century timber-framed house near Flatford Mill, Suffolk. The site of Flatford is now protected, confirming its historical and landscape value.
Moreover, despite living in London, the artist often returned to the Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, capturing the surroundings of Flatford Mill in works that became iconic.
Materials, date, and cataloging
That said, the sheet is in black chalk and gray wash on paper, inscribed and dated, 22.1 × 32.6 cm. It is executed on Whatman paper 1824, from a sketchbook used during the 1827 visits to Flatford. The work is recorded in the catalogs of Graham Reynolds but had never been presented to the public.
Why is John Constable at the center of the auction?
“Constable’s works on paper rarely come to auction, and those with direct family provenance are even rarer. This result reflects both the quality of the drawing and the strong demand for unpublished material linked to the artist’s personal circle,” said Lara L’vov-Basirov, associate director and head of the Old Masters department.
Furthermore, the combination of emblematic subject, certain date, and traceable provenance fueled the bids, confirming the appeal of the Old Masters on paper segment.
What is the context in the artist’s career?
Flatford and Suffolk inspired central views in the painter’s maturation. Emblematic is The Hay Wain (1821), now at the National Gallery in London: The Hay Wain (1821).
Finally, the artist’s profile at the Tate retraces themes, places, and drawing practice in the development of his landscape poetics: artist’s profile at the Tate.
Overall, the sale confirms the attractiveness of works on paper with strong provenance. The result achieved by John Constable strengthens the market for authentic studies linked to the places of his formation, rewarding quality, rarity, and an exemplary chain of ownership.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
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