Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/2/1/8
Page: 61 recto
Description
Visit to see the Cotmans' oil portrait of Mrs John Sell Cotman, which they had brought to the National Portrait Gallery; visit to the Palser Gallery (12 July 1933) / Visit to see Cotmans and other paintings owned by Mr Nettlefold, Cambridge Gate, Regent's Park, 'shown in plutocratic & vulgar surroundings' (14 July 1933)
Date:
Transcription
July 12, 1933. Went to see the Cotmans' oil portrait of Mrs J. S. C. which they had brought to the N. P. G. Hake is much interested in it: says it is in the English tradition of Hilton, etc. I took H. I. Kay to see it also. Called at Palser Gallery. Thomson has a pencil drawing of St Mary Wiggenhall, 'JSC 1829'. 8¾ x 12: also a very elegant drawing of trees & figures, 8 x 12, heightened with yellow, which I bought.
July 14, 1933. Went with R. H. K. to Mr Nettlefold's house, 1 Cambridge Gate, Regents Park. He has the w.c. of Cader Idris. Another w.c. c 18 x 12 of an old house on the quay side at Rouen, very definite (cf. the street scene at Alençon) good c. 1824. Also 2 superb oils very high up in billiard room & difficult to see. These 2 came recently, thro' a dealer, from the descendant of George Bridgman, for whom Cotman painted them (see Dickes p 311.) dated 1824.
(1) A View from Yar[mouth] Bridge, looking towards Breydon Just after Sunset. (14£ including 3.14.0 for materials) 17 x 25.
(2) Dutch Boats off Yar[mouth]. 17 x 25.
There are some good Turners, but the whole exh[ibitio]n is rather an example of an English School Coll[ectio]n, without individual preferences — shown in plutocratic & vulgar surroundings.