Cotmania. Vol. IV. 1929-30
Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/4
Page: 13 verso (numbered 22)
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Description
Kitson's visit to the British Museum where he saw paintings by Geldart, and his visit to Randall Davies where he identified some duds
Account of Kitson's visit to the British Museum where he saw paintings by Geldart, and account of his visit to Randall Davies where he identified some duds
Date:
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Transcription
Nov: 22. 1929. At B.M. [British Museum] saw the only 4 drawings by Joseph Geldart which they have - 3 were at the Norwich exhibition in 1927. (1) Sketches of Trees - rather like a good Ann Cotman. (2) Landscape sketch of a river bank with Cattle; excellent. has all the feeling for [lines] of a good JSC. (3) Landscape; pool + railings, trees beyond. inscribed ' June 4 1831.' also excellent & except for a slight weakness in the patterns, indistinguishable from JSC. The 4th was not exhibited at Norwich, a large chalk drawing on brown paper of a footbridge over a stream & trees beyond - very 'drawing' copy-ish.
Nov: 28. '29. Lunched with Randall Davies. He has a tinted drawing of Rochester Castle. 'Rochester Sept 1825' which is emphatically not by Cotman. He has about 10 little pencil sketches. Some traced animals, from Cotman's sheets. & some charming little pencil landscape & seascapes from the same source but all signed 'Cotman', ---- by (?).
I stayed the night with Daniel, at his new home in Hampstead. A 'Cotman' in my bedroom, had the look of an early Varley about it. A. M. D has a fine 'Bolton Abbey' by Girtin. The E end [[is]] & N. transept are in elevation, river in front. Contemporary with the 'Kirkstall' in the V&A [Victoria and Albert].Dec: 3. 1929. Saw the large sepia 'Church in Normandy' for sale at Christies on the 9th - in their cellars. It is the drawing illustrated in Finburg's Study 'Agnew Exhibition'.
Saw the 3 Cotmans advertised for sale on the 5th not at Willis' Rooms - Samuel's duds.
