The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

(Postmark “York”).
Addressed to John Sell Cotman, Esquire
Saint Andrews Street,
Norwich.

                                    Brandsby Ap*ri*l 16th 1811.

My dear Cotman,
Again I have suffered a much longer time to elapse than I intended before thanking you for the receipt of your parcel from Todd’s, the parts of which not destined for me I have long ago forwarded to their respective owners. I am glad you took my severe criticisms in such good part, indeed I expected no other from your good sense as they proceeded solely from the anxiety I felt for your success. I have real pleasure in telling you that I think the improvement made in your later etchings is most rapid and striking; and the prancing steed you mentioned has cantered at a great rate to bring you from Beeston Abbey to Kirkham and Rivaulx (sic) refectory. The only thing I could wish otherwise now (and perhaps I am wrong) is that you would put in skies in order to give the whole more the appearance of a finished piece. Piranesi’s skies are many of them beautiful, I think, and add much to the richness of effect in his views. By the bye I have several of Piranesi’s. If you think the loan of them would improve of service to you, you are welcome to them for as long as you like. I come now to some minor criticisms which proceed from young Todd, and as every artist must obey to a certain degree his master the public, I think you should not neglect them. In the first place the subscribers who have not got their numbers are very anxious for them, under an idea (ridiculous enough) that the second edition of the plates will not be so good. So pray lose no time in sending them. When I was in York a few days ago Todd told me he had just written to you and sent you (what I was happy to see) a considerable addition from