Archive: SDK Sydney Decimus Kitson Archive
Date: [1897-1932]
Reference Number: SDK/1/3/3
Extent
10 volumes
Description
All the materials collected by Kitson, including these volumes on Cotman and related artists, serve to illustrate the growing interest in and the twentieth century re-appraisal of John Sell Cotman. There are some items in between pages, for example press and magazine cuttings.
For most of the twentieth century, Cotman was the most widely admired English watercolourist, surpassing even Turner in popularity. This revival owed much to James Reeve (1833-1920), the Norwich collector and Curator of Norwich Museum from 1851-1910, who acquired many works by Cotman and his Norfolk contemporaries. Reeve's contributions to exhibitions in Norwich and in London in 1888-89 re-established Cotman's reputation and attracted the interest of Laurence Binyon, Assistant Keeper in the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum, who published studies of Cotman in 1897 and 1903. Reeve sold his collection to the British Museum in 1902, making it the foremost public holding of the artist's work.
Solomon Kaines-Smith (1876-1958) who was appointed Director of the Leeds Art Gallery in 1924, was another enthusiastic admirer of English watercolours. In 1926 Kaines-Smith published a small book on John Sell Cotman in which the artist's oil paintings were positively re-evaluated.
Most influential, however, was the distinguished scholar and collector Paul Oppé (1878–1957), whose contribution to the Studio magazine special edition in 1923 was devoted to John Sell Cotman. In 1904 Oppé began collecting drawings, beginning with a work by John Sell Cotman. Much of Oppé's art collection now forms part of the collections at the Tate Gallery, London. In 1923 he published two books, one on Rowlandson and another on Cotman.
Artists of the Norwich School including Crome and Cotman
Artists of the Norwich School including Crome and Cotman in the collection of Henry N. Holmes [published by Henry N. Holmes]. The volume is number 93 of an edition of 100. continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/1
M.E. Cotman. Bulwer Collection
M.E. Cotman. Bulwer Collection by C.F. Bell. A catalogue of works by Miles Edmund Cotman (eldest son of John Sell Cotman) in the Bulwer Collection. Written by Charles ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/2
The Etchings of John Sell Cotman
The Etchings of John Sell Cotman by A.E. Popham, in The Print Collectors' Quarterly. Arthur Ewart Hugh Popham (1889-1970) was a scholar of Italian art and a Keeper of ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/3
Memoir of John sell Cotman by James Reeve. Published by Jarrold & Sons. For most of the twentieth century, Cotman was the most widely admired English watercolourist, surpassing even Turner ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/4
The Norwich School of Painting
The Norwich School of Painting, volumes 1-3, by W.F. Dickes. Published by Jarrold & Sons. Volume 3 is devoted to the work of John Sell Cotman and his sons, Miles ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/5
John Crome and John Sell Cotman
John Crome and John Sell Cotman by Laurence Binyon. Published by Seeley & Co Ltd. Laurence Binyon had a long and successful career in English arts and letters. Binyon took ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/6
Drawings of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. The Connoisseur.
The Connoisseur. An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors, special issue, Drawings of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Bound volume containing several copies of The Connoisseur. continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/7
The Norwich School, The Studio
The Studio magazine, special number, The Norwich School. John 'Old' Crome, John Sell Cotman, George Vincent, James Stark, J. Berney Crome, John Thirtle, R. Ladbrooke, David Hodgson, M.E. & ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/4/8
Masters of English Landscape Painting, The Studio
The Studio magazine, special summer number, 1903, Masters of English Landscape Painting - J. S. Cotman and David Cox and Peter de Wint. Edited by Charles Holme, the magazine contains an ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/9
John Crome and John Sell Cotman, Portfolio
Portfolio magazine, John Crome and John Sell Cotman by Laurence Binyon. Laurence Binyon had a long and successful career in English arts and letters. Binyon took a position at the ... continue reading
Reference: SDK/1/3/3/10