David Lucas (1802–1881) was an English mezzotint engraver, best known for his association with John Constable.
He was born in Geddington Chase, Northamptonshire, and became a pupil of Samuel William Reynolds after a chance encounter in 1820. He moved to London as an apprentice, and had produced his own work by 1827.
By 1829 David knew John Constable, and worked intensively on engravings for Constable's Various Subjects of Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery from 1830 to 1832. He continued to produce works for the family after Constable died in 1837.
David died on 22 August 1881, in a workhouse in Fulham.
DAVID LUCAS
(18 August 1802 -1881)
Mezzotint engraver, was born in Geddington Chase, between Rushton and Brigstock, Northamptonshire, the eldest of seven children of Charles Lucas (1765/6-1852), farmer and grazier, and his wife, Sarah (1775/6-1849). He was baptized in Brigstock's Independent church on 28 January 1808.
Pupil of S.W Reynolds 1820-7. Mezzoting-engraver; especially known by his fine engravings from the works of John Constable, RA. He died indigent in Fulham workhouse. Made all the plates for Constable's English Landscape Scenery between 1829-32, and continued after Constable's death in 1837, to work after his paintings.
Known addresses:
18 Wyndham Street, Bryanston Square, London (1827); 27 Westbourne Street, Eaton Square, Pimlico (c. 1830-37 or
1846, see 1842,1210.61); 87 Westbourne St, Pimlico, London (1840)
John Constable (1776-1837), is recognised as one of England's greatest romantic landscape artists. Born in Suffolk he is principally known for his paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home, now affectionately referred to as 'Constable Country'. He once famously wrote 'I should paint my own places best'. In the late 182os Constable became aware of the artistic possibilities of the medium of mezzotint and he decided to start publishing prints of his paintings, hoping to introduce his critically acclaimed views of the English landscape to a wider audience.
This became a reality upon his 1829 meeting of the young engraver David Lucas (1802-1881). By way of trial Lucas made two small prints, 'Approaching Storm' and 'Departing Storm'. Constable was so impressed by the results that together they embarked on a series of mezzotints to be published as Various Subjects of Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery, published in five parts between June 1830 and July 1832, now acknowledged as one of the greatest examples of a collaboration between artist and printmaker in the history of printmaking. Constable would explain his ideas to Lucas and provide the initial conception for each image, Lucas would then interpret his ideas onto a preliminary plate which Constable then altered, retouched and commented upon until the print was considered complete. The medium of mezzotint was especially suited to the project of illustrating 'the chiaroscuro of nature' due to the development of the image from dark to light and the wide range of velvety tones possible through this medium. The mezzotints are based on a wide range of oil sketches and finished paintings which Constable had created over the course of his career.
There were also single published examples of The Proposed Appendix to English Landscape Scenery issued by Moon in 1838, as well as some of Lucas's 'Large Single Prints' and prints from Lucas's A New Series of Engravings, illustrative of English Landscape, from Pictures of John Constable published in 1846. Examples of these mezzotints can be found in museum collections across the globe including the Tate Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum & The Royal Academy.
