AN Oxfordshire couple have unearthed what is believed to be a lost piece by John Constable after it had been hanging above their mantelpiece for years.

Experts believe the line drawing is of Constable’s wife Maria Bicknell, whom he married in 1816.

The artist, who died in 1837, created the drawing that displays his wife’s back and shoulders. The image had the year “1819” and name “Maria” written on it.

The couple, who have asked not to be named, inherited the artwork and kept it above their mantelpiece until they recently moved out. An employee from auctioneers Mallams in Oxford discovered the drawing while helping the couple sort through their belongings. They also gave a number of pieces of silver and furniture to be auctioned.

The image was labelled “whereabouts unknown” by Graham Reynolds, the author of The Late Paintings and Drawings of John Constable.

The Constable artwork, measuring 11.5cm by 8.5cm, will be auctioned at Mallams on July 8, with a guide price of £4,000.