David Lucas (British, Northamptonshire 1802–1881 London), After John Constable (British, East Bergholt 1776–1837 Hampstead), Hadleigh Castle: Large Plate, 1830–49. Mezzotint; trial proof; Plate: 10 7/8 × 14 11/16 in. (27.6 × 37.3 cm) Sheet: 11 1/16 × 15 1/8 in. (28.1 × 38.4 cm). Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1927. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 27.4.61 © 2000–2016 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 1829, Lucas became involved in a project with John Constable to execute a select group of Constable's landscape paintings in mezzotint, a tonal engraving medium in which the plate is roughened with a tool called a rocker so that its burr retains the printing ink to varying degrees. Constable saw the early proofs and requested that Lucas bring him more examples: "Bring me another large 'Castle,' or two, or three, for it is mighty fine, though it looks as if all the chimney sweepers in Christendom had been at work on it and thrown their soot bags up in the air." This large plate was first published in 1849, following Constable's death, and is based on a painting that Constable associated with "melancholy grandeur," a mood which is echoed here before the addition of figures and animals in later trials.

This work is exhibited in the "Unfinished: Thoughts Left Invisible" exhibition, on view through September 4th, 2016. #MetBreuer