A John Constable oil painting of Brighton which was the subject of a BBC programme will be sold for around half a million pounds by an international art dealer.

A Sea Beach – Brighton, will be sold at Bonhams Old Master Paintings Sale in New Bond Street, London.

A BBC television programme about the painting was shown, which established its authenticity as a Constable painting.
 

David Dallas, Bonhams International Director of Old Master Paintings, said: “This is a wonderful exam- ple of Constable’s ability to conjure up the power of the elements and, by contrast, the insignificance of man.

“In this atmospheric work, the people scurry for shelter or rush to secure their boats as the sea and wind lash Brighton Beach.”

Constable and his family were frequent visitors to Brighton from 1824 until 1828, for the sake of Constable’s sick wife.

Although the painter disliked Brighton, he was captivated by the changing moods of the sea and sky and these became the inspiration for countless sketches.

The painting was previously housed in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston before it was bought by a private collector in Detroit.

It is estimated that the painting will be sold for between £400,000 and £600,000, its exact date is unknown.