Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

June 15-17.1929. at H. Fairfax-Cholmeley's Swathgill, Hovingham. Studied the Cholmeley commonplace book. Went with C. to Gilling. The pencil drawing is probably Gilling Castle from the old fish ponds - (N.W. View). Went on to Brandsby Hall - took a rubbing of 'COTTY' on the old horn-beam. Sunday Isherwood Kay came to lunch. Noted the etchings, one of 'a Cromer Boat' is new to me. Noted the 1803 pencil drawing of the family. J.K pronounced Byland to be '1809.' - took I. K. to Helmsley. Peers, Sir Rd [Richard] Allison, [Bilson] Knowles & Joan Bilson came to tea. - Monday packed up 'Byland' & 'The Commonplace Book' + went off to Byland & Gormire - my w.c. is not Gormire, but Lloyd's is.

F.W. Handley writes 5.7.29
'I have taken the 'Byland Abbey' off the cardboard & there is nothing whatever of either writing or drawing on the back neither is the paper watermarked.

June 18. Took 'Byland' to the Leeds Art Gallery where there is an exhibitio]n of Hugh Blaker (Isleworth, Middlesex)'s collection. 2 Cotmans.
(1) A Bridge in Italy (lent by Miss Blaker) c. 9x13
pencil, sepia & chinese white on grey paper, worked over with brown ink [reed pens]. (from a Harriott sketch?) very artificial, clever & well composed. (c.1833)
(2) 'Château Gaillard' - really a Castle & Town in W Normandy with a little tower in the valley & split rocks, 2 dogs and a man in foreground. sepia. c.11x16 (c. 1825)

{clipping from catalogue}

1. Bridge in Italy... J. S. Cotman
   (lent by Miss Blaker)
2. Chateau Gaillard ... J. S. Cotman

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{Account Continued}
June 20. The Misses Bulwer + Reginald Wylam came to lunch - the last named told me of a man called Lister (grandson of Palgrave) who had 2 Cotman drawings.
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June 25. Saw a w.c. of 'the Fisherboy' by Cristall in the basement of a shop in Shaftsbury Avenue. on the back was written (in pencil) 'John Thirtle' + (in ink) 'Fisher Boy from Cr/ June: 1815. '
The indigo had flowed and the drawing was not a good copy except the boy's head so I [[didn't buy it]] bought July 9.