Cotmania. Vol. IX. 1933-4

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Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
Co. Durham
Telephone No.35.
Curator and Secretary: Sydney E. Harrison

25/07/1933

Dear Mr Batchelor,
I spent last evening going to Towler Hill to see the view of the castle from that point.
In Cotman's day, I have not the slightest doubt, that there would have been the same number of Towers visible, though No 1 on your sketch is not visible because of some trees that have been planted above the Gas Works, having grown higher than the Castle as seen from Towler Hill.
There is one omission, and that is the TOWER of the Parish Church which rises up above the Castle. This omission is of course all in accordance with Cotman's plan. If he had put it in; it would have spoilt the composition and also destroyed the title as 'Barnard Castle from Towler Hill.' From your sketch in your letter, I am almost ready to stake my shirt, that I have found the point from which the sketch was made. So if Mr Kitson's Drawing corresponds with the Cotman that was in the Academy, your conjecture that it may be [[another]] the original sketch is borne out by its history., i.e. sold to Worsley at the time after he had made a studio copy.
Have you asked Mr Kitson for a copy of his Cotman. I should like one.

Yours sincerely,

Sydney E. Harrison.