The Cotman Collection | 69

Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/3
Page: 23 recto


  • Description

    Newspaper clipping from the Times, 18 May 1929, regarding upcoming exhibition in the British Museum /
    Newspaper clipping about pictures for the Ashmolean, 22 May 1929 /
    Newspaper clipping about an Exhibition held by Rochester and West Kent Art Society, 23 May 1929

    Newspaper clipping from the Times, 18 May 1929, regarding upcoming exhibition in the British Museum /
    Newspaper clipping about pictures for the Ashmolean, 22 May 1929 /
    Newspaper clipping about an Exhibition held by Rochester and West Kent Art Society, 23 May 1929

    Date: 18-25 May 1929

  • Transcription

    BRITISH DRAWINGS.
    With the primary object of drawing attention to the great wealth of the Print Room in works of the period, there has been arranged in the King Edward VII. Galleries of the British Museum a special exhibition of British Drawings and Etchings of the Nineteenth Century. Landscapes in water-colour have been omitted, with a view to a later exhibition; if water-colour painters are represented their drawings in monochrome have been chosen on this occasion. Comprising about 400 drawings and about 120 etchings, it is a very impressive display. Miscellaneous as it was bound to be, there are to be observed in it certain more or less definite phases or tendencies: the broad naturalism of the Norwich School, as illustrated by the group of etchings by Crome which leads off the collection touched with the other-worldness of design of Cotman, whose "A Shadowed Stream" and "Breaking the Clod" are two of the Print Room best treasures; the exalted pastoralism, in the best sense literary, of Samuel Palmer and the artists associated with him; the classical movement of Leighton, Poynter, Albert Moore, and their followers; the racy vernacular of Keane and Phil May, the sentimental idealism of Pinwell and Mason and so on. Looking at the collection as a whole, one is more than ever convinced of the wisdom of the Royal Academy this year in giving extended representation to graphic art. Works of special interest in a collection which the absence of a catalogue makes difficult to discuss in detail are "Cayne Waterfall," by Girtin, "The Herdsman" and "The Bright Cloud" by Palmer, and "The Rock and Castle of Seclusion," probably the masterpiece of that unfortunate genius Richard Dadd, who ended his days in Broadmoor in 1887.
    The Times, May 18. 1929

    /

    PICTURES FOR THE ASHMOLEAN.
    GAINSBOROUGH AND ROMNEY.
    By a further gift of six pictures, for whic the thanks of the University of Oxford were given yesterday, Mrs Weldon has increased her benefactions to the Ashmolean Museum to 21 pictures in all.
    Of the present gifts perhaps the most interesting is the "Ruth and Naomi," one of a group of sacred subjects by immediate followers of Rembrandt. It reflects his genius closely, but has its own qualities of colour and treatment. It was formerly in the Crewe collection, and has been assigned to Barendt, and with greater probability to Carel Frabitius, whose "Goldfinch" attracted so much attention in the Dutch Exhibition at Burlington House. Hardly less interesting is a beautiful sketch of Corot's, "A hill town in the neighbourhood of Rome," which belongs to his Italian period, about 1820-28, when many critics think he was doing his most original work. Gainsborough's "The Miser" is an important and characteristic piece of work of his early Ipswich period, 1746-60. Romney's "Mrs Siddons" is a head in profile, wearing a veil, probably part of a stage costume. Little is known about Romney's portraits of the actress, but there are records of a single sitting, in which he might have produced such a beginning as this. The gift is completed by the "Interior of a Church in Normandy," signed by J S Cotman and dated 1830, a striking example of his style, and Sir David Cameron's "The Ruins of Ypres under Bombardment," one of the most impressive records of the destruction of the War.
    The Times. 22.v.29.

    ROCHESTER AMD WEST KENT ART SOCIETY
    The Rochester and West Kent Art Society will hold its annual exhibition in the Corn Exchange, Rochester (by the courtesy of the Mayor of Rochester) during next week. The opening ceremony is to be performed at 2.45pm, on Saturday, the 25th inst., by Sir Herbert Baker, RA, FRIBA, one of England's greatest architects, and will be attended by many distinguished people, including Florence, Countess of Darnley, DBE, the President, whose practical help and enthusiasm have done so much towards the success of the Society; Lord Northbourne, President of the East Kent Art Society; and Lord and Lady Harris. Lady Darnley, Lady Harris and Lord Northbourne are also exhibitors, as are Mr. W. L. Wyllie, RA, Mr. Linton Fletcher, Mr .Donald Maxwell, and Miss M. Minter.
    Besides the works by members of the Society, there is this year a small loan collection of works by John Cotman (kindly lent by Dr. Cotman, of Chatham), Sargent, Turner, and Augustus John, which should make the Exhibition a greater success than usual, and which should prove an attraction for all lovers of art, and well worth the short journey from London to picturesque old Rochester.
    Morning Post. 23.5.29.

Newspaper clipping from the Times, 18 May 1929, regarding upcoming exhibition in the British Museum /
Newspaper clipping about pictures for the Ashmolean, 22 May 1929 /
Newspaper clipping about an Exhibition held by Rochester and West Kent Art Society, 23 May 1929