The Cotman Collection | 48

Cotmania. Vol. XI. 1935-6

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/11
Page: 26 verso


  • Description

    Letter to SDK from Paul Oppé, 11 May 1936 (2)

    Date:

  • Transcription

    The afternoon was dark for the oils. They have all been cleaned. It is difficult to say with what effect. The Cromes looked patchy. Röell definitely disliked the big sea of Cotman. I admired the sea immensely: it has come out with deep blues & has wonderfully the translucence of waves. But the sky is a mess. Waterfall + Silver Birches are still in Kennedy North's hands & the [Midas] hasn't yet reached Crown Point from him. The others are lost in a surfeit of second rate pictures of the School.
    All the watercolours have been North'd & many have not yet returned. Colman Turner + [Lenry] are delighted. The effect is to make the room sparkle from end to end; there is no rest. North strips the drawing from the old mount, sets it on a very clear but highly coloured lined strip under a pinkish white mount. I gathered that he puts glass in front & behind but I couldn't see any trace of it. What he does I don't know, but he does it even to the famous 19 virgin-states which are now refined gold. The effect is to freshen & clean, remove, of course, all foxing, & heighten the whites. This might be done very simply. But beyond that he seems to heighten certain colours & lower others. I should say that distilled water & removing from the old mount does most of the work, clear white glass & the strong mounts much of the rest - but there still remains something for chemical or manipulation & I shouldn't

Letter to SDK from Paul Oppé, 11 May 1936 (2)