The Cotman Letters 1804-1833

Dawson Turner Esq
Feb.21.1812.
Dear Sir,
I cannot send my quarto No. to Yarmouth without thanking you for your kind and friendly letter, and to assure you that it shall be my endeavour to walk in the paths you have been so indefatigable in pointing out to me. I have nearly completed another late, and on Monday I shall avail myself of the opening you have made for me to introduce myself to Mr Edwards. I have all along accounted myself a novice in the art of etching and tonight I am convinced of it, for Mr Glover, the Portrait Painter, has explained to me several things relative to that Art that I had been altogether unacquainted with, which now makes me wonder how I could have gone on so far, so ignorantly, as I have done. He obligingly [constered?] (sic for construed) with me Piranesi, and those parts which I could not before comprehend, much less initiate, he has fully explained to me!!! Oh how widely do we stray, wanting friendly hand to set us right! And so simple is it that I have all along adopted the same thing in my black lead Diary
Through the friendship of Mr Rigby I shall be able to add a jewel to my Norfolk- an arch and Porch to the old Arminghall Hall - most beautiful and unique. Pointed, with highly relieved foliage and figures, stone, tile and brick. The date about 1460. I should suppose there is at least a week's hard work to do it justice. Mr R. told me Mr. Stevenson said he should set Mr. Ninham to draw it, as I could not do it sufficiently correctly for an Antiquarian. How often is very, very bad drawing, crude outline, representing neither rotundity nor squareness - given to represent a thing that the utmost delicacy & judgement is necessary in. This is what I shall attempt before I leave Norwich. Mrs Cotman & myself beg leave to present our respectful compliments to Mrs Turner and to you, dear Sir. Believe me your most obliged & obedient
John S. Cotman.
Norwich. Feb12.1812. P.S. I shall feel mosttruely glad when I find myself a resident at Yarmouth.
(pencil note) * John Glover (1767 -1849) original member of O.W.C.S - 1805 fashionable drawing master & landscape painter. - D.N.B.