Willy Lott's House
Described as an alternative view to ‘The Haywain’, this compositional sketch became the subject of the BBC 2017 Fake or Fortune programme. Provenance as a genuine John Constable was finally established, but only after it had been on the market twice since 1995, then described as being painted by someone within the ‘circle of Constable’.
- 66
- 1820
- Private collection
- Oil on Canvas
- 135
- Oil on Canvas, 1820, Private collection
- Flatford
- Less Known
- 51.95862,1.02162
Details
Art dealer and now presenter Philip Mould had himself owned this painting twice back in the 80’s and 90’s but unable to prove its provenance sold it on to a Huntingdon business man Henry Reid in 2000 for £35,000 under the description ‘painted in the style of John Constable’ and titled Willy Lott’s House.
With modern day technology of scanning and the fact that so many old records have more recently been digitised, the BBC took on the challenge to prove it was in fact an original John Constable and to trace it back directly to Constable himself.
The same scene was also identified on 2 separate pencil drawings, one held in a museum in Marseille, the other with a private collector here in the UK. Both overlaid this painting perfectly.
The painting, now deemed to be genuine and authentic, is held in a private collection
Provenance –
1974 – Mr & Mrs Leigh Battson from LA who had bought this piece as a genuine Constable and lent it to various galleries in LA as a genuine Constable. When Leigh Battson passed away and his art collection was auctioned off, they deemed it best for the Constable to sold in the UK. However, when it returned and because of the obvious additional work over the original painting, experts at this point concluded this was not a genuine Constable!
1958 – Arthur Tooth & Sons
1954 – Colnaghi
1931 – Puttick & Simpson sold it to a Mrs Clarice Emma Smith, the wife of a ship broker, Alfred Harold Smith of Sheffield, Essex.
1930 – Lord Dewar of London who lived in the Savoy until his death in 1930 although he had a home in Sussex.
Lord Dewar was better know as ‘Tommy Whisky Dewar’ who came to London from Scotland and amassed a great wealth selling his ‘Dewars’ Whisky from his family Dewars Distillery. His private art collection also included the ‘Monarch of the Glen’ which he famously used for advertising their whisky. He got the idea of using art in advertising from his great friend and fellow art collector, Thomas Barratt, Chairman of Pears Soap and from whom he bought this Constable.
1904 Thomas Barratt, Chairman of Pears Soap – he had 7 Constables in his extensive art collection.
1874 Lionel Constable (son of John Constable) sold the painting to Thomas Barratt via Christie’s in London
The conclusion of Sarah Cover and Anne Lyles the 2 main Constable experts here in the UK was that this is a genuine John Constable piece and would be valued in the region of £2M
The painting remains in Henry Reid’s private collection.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVeWzRVdjfs
- 66
- 1820
- Private collection
- Oil on Canvas
- 135
- Oil on Canvas, 1820, Private collection
- Flatford
- Less Known
- 51.95862,1.02162