Cotmania. Vol. IV. 1929-30

**(18) '1130. J. S. Cotman.' pencil + monochrome wash of a Castle Gateway. c.1818.
(19) A Castle & boats. blk chlk + wt [black chalk and white] on brown paper. robust.
***(20) An early pencil + wash drawing - c.1805 - 7 tree branches & roots, a boy in middle distance. full of quality + texture.
Also a journal of J. J. C.'s - written in 1836.
-----------"------------

Had tea with Graham Cotman - Mill Hill Road. His mother there.
The w.c. of 'King John at Swineshead Abbey' is dated 1833. exh[ibite]d O[ld] W[atercolour] S[ociety] 1833).
He has a w.c. of Cottages by a river signed J. S. Cotman 1807 - but this is most evidently by Thirtle, with a forged signature.
The oil of the 'Boy Playing Marbles' (Henry Edmund Cotman) is lovely.
But the portrait of his father is very wooden.
He has a pencil portrait of Mrs J. S. C. [Ann Cotman] by Cotman. She looks frowsy.
He says the tradition of the 2 Love portraits of Mr and Mrs J. S. C. is that they were presented on their marriage by the Artists of Norwich.
He has a pencil portrait of his brother Henry Edmund by J. S. C.
He has several family portraits - blk & wt chk on grey paper - evidently by J. J. C.