The Cotman Collection | 20

The Cotman Letters 1834

Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/1/3
Page: 29

  • Description

    Copy of letter from John Sell Cotman to Dawson Turner, 27 January 1834

    Cotman sends Turner sketches by William Harriott. His financial situation is not as bad as he feared. He sends some of his own etchings. He thanks Turner for a gift [of sketches by Turner?]. He asks Turner how he can borrow £100. He and his son John Joseph will soon leave Norwich for London. His society has met for the last time. John [Berney] Crome lacks pupils. Cotman urges Turner to get the fine etchings by the Rev. Edward Thomas Daniell. He asks Turner to let Mrs Cotman see his letters.

    Date: 1834

  • Transcription

    [in pencil:] To Dawson Turner
    27 Jan[uar]y, 1834.
    [in pencil:] Norwich

    My dear Sir,
    I take advantage of a Parcel to Mr Brightwen, to enclose a sample of Mr Harriott’s sketches, and to remind you, Sir, to give me the line of your last tour – that I may, should I find that gentleman inclined to favour me so far, send you more sketches to illustrate it. These shall be sent in about a dozen at a time, that I may not deprive him of the pleasure of shewing his too reduced numbers. One sent is the enclosure of Heidelberg [‘?’ added in pencil] Bridge. Till you get an original sketch I enclose his only attempts at Etching, to be placed before his autograph – which I beg your acceptance of.
    I have been setting my accounts face to face. As my Friend it will give you great pleasure to be acquainted that instead of one Hundred and fifty pounds or two hundred pounds I believe I told you I was afraid I had involved myself, it turns out to be only about fifty pounds.This will, I am sure surprise and give you very real pleasure. It has astonished me completely & made me, on the score of pecuniary matters, tolerably easy.
    I send you also a few etchings, that you have never seen, of mine – part of some 20. I would have sent them also, but I cannot lay hands upon them – Indeed I am not certain that I have proofs of them.
    Edmund is looking over this evening your splendid present, which I appreciate, my dear Sir, the more & more I look at them. He remarked that the Artist’s* eye in all of them was remarkable, for it had that intense examination in it which went beyond the surface – in which remark I fully agree with him, and I instance the eye or eyes of Wilkie.
    With the statement of my affairs so much more favourable than I expected, I ask you (professionally) in what way I can take up one Hundred Pounds. In my worst statement you said there would be little difficulty of my doing so. I now ask you to

    * I mean to say the eye of an artist, portrayed as Tresham, Wilkie, etc.
    [note added in pencil:] [Henry Tresham, R.A. 1749(?)-1814) historical painter. His portrait etched by Mrs Dawson Turner. D.N.B.

Copy of letter from John Sell Cotman to Dawson Turner, 27 January 1834