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Description: A view of Salisbury Cathedral and Harnham Bridge (recto); A letter (verso)
pencil and wash heightened with white, on cream wove paper made by William Turner at Chafford Mill, Kent with embossed crown- Bath stationers stamp
11.5 x 19 cm. (4 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.)
unframed.

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Notes: The letter verso:

Nr 2. Lower Terrace Hampstead
Augt 11. 1821

My dear Sir.
Agreeable to your request I have mentioned to my medical friend the difficulty attending this settling MF's bill - I find that the usual charge is a guinea for being called from their bed or sitting up...

John Constable was at No. 2, Lower Terrace, Hampstead from 17th June 1821 until early November 1821. He then went to Salisbury, where he stayed with Archdeacon John Fisher from about 8th November until after 19th November. It is reasonable to associate the present drawing with that visit.

The medical friend (MF) mentioned in the letter is presumably Dr. Robert Gooch, who was attending Constable's children around this period.

We are grateful for Graham Reynolds for his assistance in cataloguing this lot.