The Cotman Letters 1834

for me he draws & colors admirably – and this too is not my opinion only. Gurney (excuse me, I am commanded by him to call him so) dines with me on Saturday, to go on to Mr Griffith’s sister to a dress Conversazione (the original one) at the Freemasons’ Tavern. Ladies are to be admitted – consequently Tickets are scarce, but not with me. By taking Bulls by the horns I am promised three. Griffiths behaved to me like a prince – a name known to you as as [sic] a large collector & wholesale purchaser of the best works of modern art. I have exchanged so many cards that I am cardless. I have now promised me half as many more pupils as I now have in Norwich. Ought I to be cool? No, you cannot say I ought. Sir Robert Peel has great influence with the Umpire, Sir Rob[er]t Smirke. Can you get at him? Anyhow? I shall call in Duke St tomorrow morning to say as much there. I will, with God’s help, paint Red, Blue, Yellow – in short anyhow – and, with your permission, begin by copying your Jan Bellini. I sincerely hope to hear from you. Present my best & dutiful respects to Mrs Turner & to my Friends – and to my kind friends & well-wishers, Mr & Mrs Brightwen, who, I hear, are most anxious for my success.
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To my dearest Wife & Children.
Edmund & John, we are all wrong. Go on with no more Landscapes till you see me. When compared with London art, we are as nothing. Look out for pictures with figures, not vulgar ones. Get them to sit to you, and paint them upon the coloured paper (drab) like the old Dredger, that was done by me, poor me, in an hour and a half by candle light & was sold for Eight Guineas. But use more colour. I now only wonder we have done so well as we have done. But with all this their [sic] are few seen in London but tip-top Sawyers. All but the top, remember, must be on the shelf. In the bottom left hand drawer of the table