A chance encounter in 1820 with the engraver Samuel William Reynolds led Lucas to move to London as an apprentice. In 1827 he began to work on his own and in 1829 met Constable (1776 -1837), who employed him to engrave the plates for his Various Subjects of Landscape, Characteristic of English Scenery, which Constable published in Parts, 1830-32. Constable made oil sketches for the series and he and Lucas worked in close collaboration through developing progress proofs. Lucas is only known for his Constable mezzotints, and continued to produce works after Constable’s death. The Fitzwilliam owns a note from Lesley which expresses his admiration for Lucas’ engraving skills. This print being a proof before all letters, with a pencil inscription at the foot of the sheet of chine, Young Waltonians.
On chine appliqué on wove. A fine rich impression, but time stained and with some foxing. Other defects in the margins of the chine. Lucas added the lettering, including the title The Young Waltonians (after Isaac Walton’s The Compleat Angler) after Constable’s death and published it in 1840.