The Cotman Collection | 94

Cotmania. Vol. III. 1928-9

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/3
Page: 30 recto


  • Description

    Account of Kitson's talk with [illegitimate?] descendant of Dawson Turner, and visit to Miss Price and Mrs Bickman to view a Cotman. Sketch and annotation of painting.

    Account of Kitson's talk with [illegitimate?] descendant of Dawson Turner, and visit to Miss Price and Mrs Bickman to view a Cotman. Sketch and annotation of painting.

    Date:

  • Transcription

    June 24. '29. Met Geoffrey Barker at the Walpole Society General meeting. He told me that he was descended from Dawson Turner, who - when over 70 - had a liaison with a servant. His house was broken up & he had to leave the Bank. His former partners passed a resolution that none of his descendants should ever hold a position at the Bank. This resolution was used 50 years later to prevent his father from entering the Bank.

    July 6. 1929. Called on Miss Mabel Price. 49 Banbury Road, Oxford. She has an album of drawings and etchings, mostly from old masters of W. White Abbott. One very beautiful small landscape etching. We went on to see Mrs Bickmore, Northmoor Road, who has a Cotman watercolour. Written on the back in J. S. C's writing 'Near St Martins at Oak, Norwich.' 14x13 on rough sugar paper. Bell puts it at 1812 but I think 1806 or 7. very good indeed. Utterly simple and utterly satisfying.

    Mrs Bickmore was a Miss Pellman, her mother was a Buxton. The drawing once hung in a servant's bedroom in the Palace at Norwich.

    {Sketch of painting with annotations:}
    pink roofs, buff walls, white background

    girl on left has black dress & yellow sleeves, girl to right has white dress with pink lines.

    grey clouds. bright blue cloth hanging from window 2.

    light + trees beyond. shadows from adjoining buildings.

Account of Kitson's talk with [illegitimate?] descendant of Dawson Turner, and visit to Miss Price and Mrs Bickman to view a Cotman. Sketch and annotation of painting.