The Cotman Letters 1838-1864

135
“Aug: 21. 1839.”
[Inscriptions in “The Sketcher's
Manual' by Mark Howard. 1837.
in the possession of Miss. Bateson,
Nightingale Corner, Bushey, Herts.
Ex Coll: J.King.]
“This valuable little work presented to J.J.Cotman by his Father.

                        SKETCH

The dark cloud, with gray. The light warmest to the left.
The sky at top to the right Ultramarine Blue, but not dark.
Sea darker Grey with much of the sky tint, the dark part above,
black. The boat passing the pier reddish oker, black & warm
brown. The ships in the offing pearly white.
I think that a beautiful simple subject & likely to
suit old Toddles. I am not sure but that a figure in
red on a very flat shore might improve the subject, at
bottom to the right thus -- [sketch]
But it is perfect without therefore its introduction very
doubtful. It w[oul]d smack of composition & artifice,
and so I believe Toddles and you w[oul]d think.”