The Cotman Collection | 52

Cotmania. Vol. XI. 1935-6

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/11
Page: 27 verso


  • Description

    Letter to SDK from S. Kennedy North, 23 May 1936 (1)

    Date:

  • Transcription

    31 Ladbroke Grove,
    London, W.11.
    23rd May 1936.

    Dear Mr Kitson,
    I have got the "St. Luke's Chapel" by Cotman belonging to the Norwich Museum, and on the back of this drawing in Cotman's handwriting is what you can see on the enclosed sheet, as near as I can decipher it. I am sending it to you, thinking that perhaps there might be something of interest to you. I shall require this sheet back again, but am in no hurry.

    Mrs. Colman was in town a couple of days ago and told me that Mr. Russell Colman had already written to you concerning the point about the ownership of "The Silver Birches".

    You remember I suggested that you should write the biographical part for the foreword to the catalogue, and Mr Turner should write the, what he would call, aesthetics of the case, but since reading your little monograph I very much want to change these two positions around. I imagine that this produces difficulty, but what has led me to it is the charm of your writing and the extraordinary apt use of words in conveying the subtle thing in Cotman's work. I don't believe this could be done better by anybody that by you, and, moreover, Mrs Colman is entirely in agreement. Now, of course, the trouble is going to be how not to hurt feelings. I am writing this now so that you will be able to turn it over in your mind before I come to Oxford.

    I am going to Norwich on the 17th, 18th and 19th of next month, so that my visit to Oxford will be delayed. That day I have promised lunch with

Letter to SDK from S. Kennedy North, 23 May 1936 (1)