John Constable, RA, 
British 1776-1837- 
The Valley Farm, Flatford; 
black chalk and grey wash on...

John Constable, RA, 
British 1776-1837- 

The Valley Farm, Flatford; 

black chalk and grey wash on paper, inscribed and dated by the artist 'Flatford / 13 Oct / 1827' (lower right), inscribed by Charles Golding Constable 'Flatford / Oct 13. 1827' (lower right), inscribed by J.H. Beazley 'This sketch was presented to the late James Beazley by the widow or relative of Constable the artist, out of gratitude for a slight service rendered to her by him' on a piece of card attached to the backing board, bears further inscription 'I certify this to be the work of / my late father-in-law / J Constable RA / signed / A M Constable / June 25th 1849' on a separate piece of card forming the previous mount, 22.1 x 32.6 cm. 

Provenance: 
By descent from the artist to his second son Captain Charles Golding Constable (1821-1878). 
James Beazley (a gift from Mrs Charles Golding Constable); 
Thence by descent to Mrs E. O. Beazley before 1960; 
Thence by descent. 

Literature: 
G. Reynolds, 'Catalogue of the Constable Collection', Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1973, p.185. 
G. Reynolds, 'The Later Paintings and Drawings of John Constable', Yale University Press, 1984, p.184, no.27.22. 
G. Reynolds, 'The Early Paintings and Drawings of John Constable', Appendix, Yale University Press, 1996, no.27.22, illustrated pl.1418. 

Note: 
This drawing is on a page from the sketchbook of 1824 Whatman paper which Constable used at Flatford in 1827.

Catherine Broom-Lynne identified the building as Valley Farm, Flatford, to the east of Flatford Mill and on the other side of the lane. It was the home of John Lott, a respected and successful farmer who also served as a Church Warden, and who was also the brother of Willy Lott. He died in 1827, the year this drawing was made. Valley Farm is the oldest building at Flatford. Built in the mid-15th century, it is a medieval Great Hall House that was home to wealthy yeoman farmers up until the early 1900s. The present work accurately represents it as a large timbered house with a tiled roof, and includes a haystack on the left with haymaking in progress.