The Cotman Collection | 42

Cotmania. Vol. VII. 1931-2

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/7
Page: 13 recto


  • Description

    Kitson's diary entry 2 February 1932; letter from Barnes concerning John Samuel Hayward

    A 'Cotman' oil painting that is judged to be not by Cotman; a letter from J. Howard Barnes concerning a drawing by John Samuel Hayward and Hayward's journal of a journey through France and Italy in 1816-17.

    Date: 1932

  • Transcription

    Feb: 2, 1932. Went to Permaine’s, on the intimation of Sir Harry Wilson, to see a ‘Cotman’ oil, bought by him for a Client at Christie’s for 160 g[uinea]s, & the Client now wishes to resell. It is a large empty heath scene, with a quarry in foreground. Not Cotman, but w[oul]d fit in with Beverley very well indeed.
    -------------"-------------
    The following letter from J. Howard Barnes, received Feb: 16th. The 1803 framed Hayward drawing is the “Hall of the Kings, the dwelling place of Ghosts.”
    [typescript]
    My framed drawing by Hayward, of 1803, was bought from Mr Arthur Batchelor, in December 1922. He was introduced to me by Mr J.H.F. Walter, of Drayton Hall, Norwich, who was very interested in my collection. Alas, he is no longer with us. Mr Batchelor told me that the Hayward was given to him by Reeve a short time before his death. The note below the drawing is in Reeve's hand. He also told me that Mr Russell Colman had a good many of the drawings that were Reeve's, but, I fancy that it was Mr Gemmer – who married Reeve's daughter – who told me that towards the close of his life Reeve was persuaded to sell to the British Museum the Cotmans that he held, and that he then gave away to his friends the other Drawing Society drawings that he had.
    In a portfolio of "Flying Sketches", made on a tour thro' France Switzerland & Italy in 1802, there are two sketches that suggest two of the photographs now to be returned to you. The one is a distant view of the Aqueduct of Marli – which has the "Colonade" that Cotman was so fond of. The other is a sketch from Mt Blanc, and has in the middle a 'Hill' such as is shewn in your two drawings of 1803.
    I have Hayward's "Journal" of a journey through France and Italy in 1816-17. He made drawings as the modern tourist takes 'snaps'. The Journal is in three vols. The first is the nar[r]ative with numerous thumb nail sketches, the second has his larger drawings, and the third the smaller. Unfortunately, they were pillaged rather badly at some remote date. But the books are the size of my "Drawing Society" Drawings, and in the second vol there may be only one to a page, or it may be two or three. But, often two or three bear the same date and the Diary records the continuation of the journey the next day, and then there are two or three more. He must have worked more quickly than my old fingers can type.

Kitson's diary entry 2 February 1932; letter from Barnes concerning John Samuel Hayward