The Cotman Collection | 51

Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/3
Page: 14 verso


  • Description

    Magazine article by Augustus Walker about the life of John Sell Cotman, with images of 'Ruins' and 'Abbey Gate of St Martin at Aumale'

    Magazine article by Augustus Walker about the life of John Sell Cotman, with images of 'Ruins' and 'Abbey Gate of St Martin at Aumale'

    Date:

  • Transcription

    {magazine article clipping}
    John Sell Cotman
    (1782-1842)
    John Sell Cotman was born just seven years after Turner and Girtin, one year before David Cox, and two years before De Wint. Those nine years, 1775-1784, thus produced five of the greatest artists in the British-School of Water-colour. Very high among them stands Cotman, and no one will deny that he ranks among our finest masters, both as draughtsman and painter. During recent years our fuller understanding of the value of decorative principles in line and mass and colour have led to a much higher appreciation of the work of the superb simplicity and effective directness of Cotman's work.
    The five drawings by John Sell Cotman reproduced in this "Monthly" have been exhibited at some time or another in one of the twenty-four annual exhibitions of Early English Water-colours held at Walker's Galleries. At these exhibitions neatly three hundred Cotman drawings - including of course, work in monochrome as well as colour - have been shown.
    In the early years Cotman drawings were sold at comparatively small prices, and even now the full value of his work has not been reached. There were few collectors who bought in those earlier days, but in recent years there has been a steady growth in appreciation of fine work, and a much larger number of people who posses real knowledge and look upon the purchase of an occasional drawing as a sound investment as well as a constant source of pleasure to themselves. It is extraordinary to think that twenty years ago one of these splendid drawings could be bought for a few hundred pounds. The collector who bought Cotman twenty years ago - ten years ago- was far wiser than if he had put his money into Consols! When one buys the best -

    Illustrations of 'Ruins' (12½" X 8") and 'Abbey Gate of St Martin at Aumale' (Pencil and White Chalk) J. S. Cotman, presented by A. E. Anderson Esq,. to the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.

Magazine article by Augustus Walker about the life of John Sell Cotman, with images of 'Ruins' and 'Abbey Gate of St Martin at Aumale'