Lock 2 For Sale

John Constable painted two versions of The Lock (c.1824-5). This second version has refinements, such as the stormy sky, and Constable kept it for himself. When he died it was offered in a sale of works from his studio. Charles Birch, a leading collector, bought it for £131 and ten shillings. In 1855 Birch put it up for auction and it fetched £860. It was bought by wealthy industrialist William Orme Foster and stayed in his family. On 9 December it comes up for grabs in Sotheby’s London sale, estimated at £8-12m (CLICK).