The Lock

'The Lock' is a sublime example of Romanticism in English art, created by John Constable in 1824. The oil painting – crafted using oil on a canvas – showcases a serene rural scene on the River Stour in Suffolk. Known as a genre painting, it's one of six in Constable's 'Six-Footer' series, celebrating everyday rural life. This work's substantial and historic impact was acknowledged when it auctioned for over £22 million at Christie's in London on 3 July 2012.