Cotmania. Vol. IV. 1929-30

{Catalogue Clipping}
Catalogue of an Exhibition of
ENGLISH LANDSCAPE PAINTING
1750 - 1930
at Corling's Galleries - June 1930
with a Foreword by
J B MANSON
(Director of the Tate Gallery)

At the same time the painters of the Norwich School were producing examples of sturdy, honest landscape painting, native in character and feeling. Old Crome at his best revealed a love of the soil abd a sensitive appreciation of light and atmosphere which appears to have been instinctive. He was unequal and at times was dominated to his detriment by his love of Hobbema.
The work of that peculiarly interesting Norwich painter, J S Cotman, provides a point of contact with modern painting not only by superficial resemblance but by the quality of his mind. He had the modern concern with style. In his case it was an inborn sense, and in his work was fused completely with his intuition, not ever in conflict as is so often the case with deliberate stylists.
30 JOHN SELL COTMAN Boys Fishing
(1782 - 1842) (lent by Russell Colman Esq.)

{Kitson's account}
June 19th. At Norwich with RIBA Conference. Tea at Crown Point. Gave short description of Colman's Collection. Reception by Lord Mayor at Castle. Miss Barnard showed the late Crome of Regatta at Wroxham. w.c.
June 21. Went to Boswell's. bought the 2 w.cs of Tintern Abbey by Crome, exh[ibite]d Norwich 1865. also 3 coloured soldiers by J. S.C. & a pencil of 'the Dragon of Wantage' & a w.c. by Lound from Miss Thirkettle's Sale. - a copy of J. S. C.'s 'Cader Idris from Barmouth Sands'. Went to Nightingale, Elm Hill. He bought a pencil Cotman at the Geldart Sale. He wants £25 for it. did not see it.

Went to Castle Museum. An important collection of the late Dr Cotman of Chatham has been lent by his son J. S. Cotman (a medical student) for 5 years to the Castle Museum.
** It contains.
(1) Watercolour of a boy, by M E Cotman. 'May 1 - 34' - see M. E. C.'s letter to J. J. C. of that date.