DOI Heft:
Nr. 353 (August 1922)
DOI Artikel:Cundall, Herbert M.: The Cotman Exhibition at the Tate Gallery
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21396#0086
THE COTMAN EXHIBITION
" SEASCAPE." (WATER-COLOUR I2jX
l6J IN.). BY JOHN SELL COTMAN
(Lent by the Hon. Mr. Justice McCardic)
instinct lived long enough to leave a con- little sought after that dealers even attri-
siderable fortune, but Cotman, like many buted them to other artists in order to
pioneers, failed to reap his reward. He dispose of them. The fine work, Wherries
could find but little market for his draw- on the Yare, now in the National Gallery,
ings, and at a sale after his death two lots only fetched eighteen shillings at Cotman's
had even to be put together to obtain a bid. sale when he left Norwich in 1834. He lived
He returned to Norwich and, following before his time. These paintings now fetch
Crome's example, started teaching to add hundreds. The Landscape with Water-
to his means of gaining a livelihood. He fall, beautifully rendered with classic
also advertised himself as a portrait painter, feeling, was not appreciated, and was also
Owing to his instability and fits of depres- sold for a small sum. The Alder Car
sion, which greatly increased with his (a local Norfolk term for a small planta-
responsibility in bringing up a family, he tion of trees in a water meadow) was
never settled long at one place. He re- another oil painting cf about the same
moved to Great Yarmouth and devoted time. Cotman made several tours in
himself to oil painting, at which he had Normandy to study Norman architec-
previously worked spasmodically. With ture, and from that period his drawings
this he still failed to meet with success, were executed in a brighter key, of which
His paintings, though admirably executed, the Gateway, Abbey Aumale, from the col-
realised next to nothing. Many of them lection of the late Sir William Drake, and
were shipping scenes, but they were so now in the possession of Mr. Russell J.
66
" SEASCAPE." (WATER-COLOUR I2jX
l6J IN.). BY JOHN SELL COTMAN
(Lent by the Hon. Mr. Justice McCardic)
instinct lived long enough to leave a con- little sought after that dealers even attri-
siderable fortune, but Cotman, like many buted them to other artists in order to
pioneers, failed to reap his reward. He dispose of them. The fine work, Wherries
could find but little market for his draw- on the Yare, now in the National Gallery,
ings, and at a sale after his death two lots only fetched eighteen shillings at Cotman's
had even to be put together to obtain a bid. sale when he left Norwich in 1834. He lived
He returned to Norwich and, following before his time. These paintings now fetch
Crome's example, started teaching to add hundreds. The Landscape with Water-
to his means of gaining a livelihood. He fall, beautifully rendered with classic
also advertised himself as a portrait painter, feeling, was not appreciated, and was also
Owing to his instability and fits of depres- sold for a small sum. The Alder Car
sion, which greatly increased with his (a local Norfolk term for a small planta-
responsibility in bringing up a family, he tion of trees in a water meadow) was
never settled long at one place. He re- another oil painting cf about the same
moved to Great Yarmouth and devoted time. Cotman made several tours in
himself to oil painting, at which he had Normandy to study Norman architec-
previously worked spasmodically. With ture, and from that period his drawings
this he still failed to meet with success, were executed in a brighter key, of which
His paintings, though admirably executed, the Gateway, Abbey Aumale, from the col-
realised next to nothing. Many of them lection of the late Sir William Drake, and
were shipping scenes, but they were so now in the possession of Mr. Russell J.
66