# Weymouth Bay

**David Lucas** (British, 1802–1881)  
1830  
Mezzotint on chine collé; progress proof  
Image: 5 5/8 × 7 1/8 in. (14.3 × 18.1 cm) Plate: 6 15/16 × 8 15/16 in. (17.6 × 22.7 cm) Sheet: 11 13/16 × 15 1/8 in. (30 × 38.4 cm)

Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 39.68.16. [The museum's record](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/682931).

## About this work

Storm clouds pile over a sweeping bay in this mezzotint by David Lucas after a painting by John Constable, made for English Landscape Scenery, the series of prints through which Constable hoped to make his art better known. Mezzotint, in which the engraver scrapes and burnishes light out of a darkened copper plate, suited Constable’s dramatic skies perfectly. This is a progress proof, printed while the plate was still being worked so that it could be checked and corrected; Constable scrutinised every stage, and the plates went through many changes.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

David Lucas made this in 1830, aged 28. It is now at The Met in New York.

### How it was made

- **Mezzotint.** The whole copper plate is roughened with a toothed rocker so it would print solid black. The artist then scrapes and burnishes it smooth where the lights should be, working from dark to light, which gives soft, velvety tones.

### [David Lucas](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/david-lucas)

British, 1802–1881; born in Geddington Chase, Northamptonshire; died in London

Lucas was a mezzotint engraver best known for his long collaboration with John Constable. Between 1830 and 1832 they issued English Landscape Scenery, a series of mezzotints after Constable’s paintings and sketches, with Constable closely correcting the proofs to capture effects of weather and light. Lucas also engraved several larger single plates after Constable. Despite the quality of the work, it brought neither man commercial success.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

## Facts

- Type: Prints
- The artist was 28
- Real size: about 5½ × 7 in (14 × 18 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: Landscapes, Clouds, Storms
- Colour: black
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1280.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1280/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/weymouth-bay-met-682931).