Cotmania. Vol. VIII. 1932-3

Dec: 16, 1932. Met Hake & his assistant Adams at the B. M. C. F. Bell & Lawrence Binyon joined us. Hake brought from the N. P. G. a sepia portrait of a very worried looking man, framed in an oval. This was bought 19.2.1904 by Lionel (not for the Gallery) from Miss James (3 gs) whose father bought it from Mrs Pugh, wife of an engraver and d. of H. B. Love. The portrait is signed in pencil, cursive scrip 'H. B. Love, 1830' - the 1830 looks like a later insertion by another hand.
We compared it with the B. M. Love portrait. it is possible that the B. M. portrait represents the same man, done 'to face the world with' - & the other a truthful representation of a disillusionised & sick man. They did not see any 'Cotman' in the early portrait (Graham Cotman's).
It was agreed that the Davis portrait was a very good drawing & a truthful representation. The "Miles Cotman" of his father, they w[oul]d not have, said it was a young man in early Victorian dress - therefore an anachronism. It was purchased Oct 1885, & must be looked at askance.
They thought the Thetford portrait was 'off the map.' Hake agreed the 1841 portrait was by J. J. Cotman, &