John Constable: Toward a Complete Chronology. - Reed College

on my easil is most promising and if time allows I shall far
excell my other large pictures in it. It is a canal and full of the
bustle incident to such a scene where four or five boats are
passing with dogs, horses, boys, & men & women & children,
and best of all old timberprops, water plants, willow stumps,
sedges, old nets, &c &c &c. . . . Your picture and the Green
Lane are now in my gallery. . . . Reynolds has got off a proof
of my lock—it looks most promising. . . . When writing to the
Bishop will you say that the picture of Mrs. Fishers ancestor is
in hand. . . . My little group is a canvas 24 x 20. It makes a
pretty little picture. In the background is Woodmanstone
Church." J.C. includes a sketch of group portrait. (JCC VI pp.
190-92; see also JCC IV, pp. 195, 266 and JCC II, p. 375)
1825 Jan 25 Letter from J.C. in Woodmansterne to Maria in London: "Last
night we had a heavy rain but to day it is beautifull & the
wind is so healthy that I shall try to get a view. . . . I have
done one of the heads this morning—that of the eldest boy.
The little girl was done yesterday. . . . We get on wonderfully
with the picture. I shall finish all the likenesses now and I hope
[to] bring it with me on Saturday (if not Friday). . . . I only
began it on Saturday, on the real canvas—and I have done
the donkey and two of the likenesses. . . only that there will
be bridal & stirrup & several little things that I can do at
home to be put in. . . . We are now going to the church to
draw it. . . . How I long to get back to my large landscape. Mr.
L. is to be as usual the size of Mr. Lewis's portrait." (JCC II,
pp. 375-77)
1825 Jan 27 Letter from John Fisher in Bath to J.C. in Woodmansterne.
(JCC VI, pp. 192-94)
1825 Jan 28 Letter from Bishop Fisher in London to J.C. (JCC VI, p. 194)
1825 end of Jan Returns to London. Schroth calls in London, picks up pictures
and orders three more. (JCC II, p. 377; see also JCC IV, p.
196)
1825 Feb 8 Bishop Fisher gives J.C. a frank for a letter to East Bergholt.
(JCC VI, p. 194)
1825 Feb 19 Letter from Claude Schroth in Paris to J.C. in London. (JCC IV,
p. 196; see also JCC II, p. 377)