Cotmania. Vol. XI. 1935-6

May 24. 1936. Croft Murray sent me from the B.M. [British Museum] 4 albums & a small portfolio of drawings. Adams at N.P.G. had already written about them. They belonged & were assembled by the Lowry family. Wilson Lowry (1762-1824) was an accomplished surgeon. He had a d. [daughter] by his first wife (Miss Porter) Matilda, married, and (as Mrs Hemming) was known as a portrait painter. Wilson Lowry's second wife Rebecca Delvalle bore him Joseph Wilson Lowry 1803-1879 an engraver, & Delvalle who became John Varley's second wife.
There are pencil drawings by Flaxman of the Lowry family - landscapes by Mrs Hemming on rough paper. Very like 2 I have & which I thought were by [?Leich].
Then there are several 'Cotmans'. A copy of 'Millbank on the Thames' , s.g. [soft ground] in reverse. "Cottage at Llangollen, N. Wales, 674. J.S. Cotman" - evidently an original drawing by J.S.C. 1807-1810. Also a pencil drawing of a cottage 'Cotman, 2386,' I made a note of the latter when Finburg had about 6 on sale or return. Probably the 'Llangollen' was there too. Also a pencil and sepia wash copy of Cotman's "Font at Caistor Church, Nflk.' in my coll. signed "Harriet Holmes, March 12. 1825."
There are several small and unimportant sketches by John Varley.
The representative of the owner of the drawings
Edgar R. Wilby
3 Hurlingham Gardens
London SW6.