Cotmania. Vol. IV. 1929-30
Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/4
Page: 12 recto (numbered 19)
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Description
Account of end of Kitson's visit to Wales where he visited: Capel Curig, Conway, Plas Mawr, St Asaph, Denbigh, Llangollen, Valle Crucis, Shrewsbury, Iron Bridge, Bedlam Furnace, Buildwas, Bridgnorth, Stratford and back home to Kidlington.
Account of Kitson's visit to Palser's, where he saw some very poorly varnished Cotman watercolours.Account of end of Kitson's visit to Wales where he visited: Capel Curig, Conway, Plas Mawr, St Asaph, Denbigh, Llangollen, Valle Crucis, Shrewsbury, Iron Bridge, Bedlam Furnace, Buildwas, Bridgnorth, Stratford and back home to Kidlington.
Account of Kitson's visit to Palser's, where he saw some very poorly varnished Cotman watercolours.Date:
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Transcription
Lunched at Capel Curig. On to Conway. Saw the site of Girtin's drawing of the Castle & of Cotman's. Noted that Girtin had added an extra arch (near to him) in his drawing of the hall. Noted an oriel window at Plas Mawr of which I have a [[Girtin]] Cotman sketch. On to St Asaph, where there are no West towers, by Denbigh to Llangollen, where we slept.
Oct: 6. Went to Valle Crucis: the round headed door of Cotman's etching in the Chapter House door. On to Shrewsbury. On to Iron Bridge to lunch & saw the ruins of Bedlam Furnace. The Iron Bridge was built in 1779. Saw Buildwas. Cotman's view spoilt by a r[ailwa]y embankment. On to Bridgnorth - very wet- to Stratford for tea & reached Kidlington at 6.30 p.m.
------------"------------Oct: 16. Went to Palser's. After much mystery making & hocus-pocus he produced 4 Cotman watercolours - the property of himself and a 'friend' [P.M.T.] [Percy Moore-Turner]. They had all been heavily varnished & had been treated, 'South of the Thames' - 'but hasn't he done them well?' The diagonal brush strokes of the varnish were plainly visible, and the 'bloom' of the watercolours has gone for ever.
(1) 'Valley in the Tyrol' (really Pontaberglaslyn) an exact replica of the drawing in the B.M. [British Museum].
(2) Barges on a Norfolk River, windmills on the l. in distance. 9 x 12½
