Cotmania. Vol. VIII. 1932-3

very intriguing upright (c. 18 x 10) watercolour of an old rustic full length, leaning on a long staff, and a dog behind. A suggestion of landscape behind, dark, the whole paint sunk into the ?cardboard. Behind was written {Mrs Dawson with} and in another (later) hand- “this drawing has been attributed to Crome, but I think it is more like Cotman.”
If it be a Cotman it must be early (1806-7.) The drawing was sold to (?) Mr O’Malley.
I went on to the Castle Museum, where Leney showed me the 100 ‘Cotman’ drawings, all drawing copies, and beyond a few Norfolk arch[itectura]l drawings of 1816-18, hardly any seemed to be by J.S.C. The Nat: Art Collection Fund gave £400 for the purchase of this stuff from Boswell. (He asked £1000!)
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Sat: Oct 15. 1932. Visited Yarmouth with A.B. Wet and squally. Saw *Caistor Castle, and stood on Gorleston pier to see the trawlers come in. Called on Mr Teesdale, and with him to Cotman’s House, 83 Southtown. Stands back from road with small garden in front. On opposite side of road is a timber yard, and then the quay and the river. Faces East. Plastered c 1810. gn as J.S.C’s house in ‘Perlustration of Great Yarmouth’ 1872, by Charles John Palmer.