by-nc

The window between Saint Andrew's Hall and The Dutch Church, Norwich

Maker

(artist)
1782-1842

Title

The window between Saint Andrew's Hall and The Dutch Church, Norwich

Date of Production

(circa) 1808

Medium

graphite, grey wash and blue watercolour on wove paper

Dimensions

Height: 25.2 cm
Width: 17.2 cm

Accession Number

D.1967.WS.18

Mode of Acquisition

William Wycliffe Spooner, bequest, 1967

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords



lancet windows

Label Text

Cotman’s predilection for unorthodox views of buildings and objects is evident in this monochrome drawing, as is his instinctive understanding of line and pattern. Through the use of carbon black washes in varying shades, and shiny black pencil shadows, attention is focused on the decorative stonework, the elegant Gothic tracery silhouetted, light against dark, dark against light. The white areas result from leaving the paper bare — a feature of Cotman’s watercolours around this time.

Notes

Possibly from Cotman's first extended period in Norwich, ca. 1807/08. Related to the watercolour now in National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, dated 1807.

Provenance

Sir Bruce Ingram, London (1877–1963); Sotheby's (London), 9 February 1955, lot 70; purchased there by Colnaghi (London); purchased there by William Wycliffe Spooner, Ilkley (1882-1967), 26 April 1955 (£80); Spooner Bequest 1967

Exhibition History

British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum and Art Gallery, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005

British Watercolours from the Spooner Collection, Huntington Museum of Art, Los Angeles, 12/02/2005-15/05/2005; Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere, 18/07/2005-23/10/2005; Hermitage Rooms, Somerset House, London, 16/11/2005-12/02/2006

Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999 ...More

The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986

John Sell Cotman 1782-1842. A touring exhibition arranged by the Arts Council of Great Britain, V&A, London; Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, City of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, 1982-83

English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/06/1979-01/09/1979

Exhibition of Drawings and Watercolours from the Spooner and Witt Collections, Australia, New Zealand, 1976-78

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974

English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 11/05/1973-02/06/1973

English Landscape Drawings [catalogue not found], Rye Art Gallery, England, 1971

A loan exhibition of drawings and watercolours by East Anglian artists of the 18th and 19th centuries, Colnaghi, London, 08/09/1970-02/10/1970

Royal Academy of Arts Bicentenary Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 14/12/1968-02/03/1969

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/04/1968-01/07/1968

Old Master Drawings, Colnaghi, London, 21/04/1955-25/05/1955 ...Less

Literature

The Spooner Collection of British Watercolours, Courtauld Institute Galleries; Huntington Library; Wordsworth Trust, 2005-06
cat. no. 62
ill. on p. 197

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1968
cat. no. 62

English Watercolours: The Spooner Collection and Bequest, City Art Gallery, Bristol, 1973
cat. no. 11 ...More

The William Spooner Collection and Bequest, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1974
cat. no. 49

English Landscape Drawings and Watercolours, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1979
cat. no. 54

Exhibition of Drawings and Watercolours from the Spooner and Witt Collections, Australia, New Zealand, 1976 - 1978
cat. no. 44
ill.

John Sell Cotman 1782-1842. A touring exhibition arranged by the Arts Council of Great Britain, V&A, London; Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, City of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, 1982
cat. no. 74

The Northern Landscape. Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Drawing Center, New York; Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1986
no. 78
ill. on p. 181

Material Evidence, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1998-1999

The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 78
ill. on p. 181 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Collector's mark: none.

Inscription: Verso: lower right corner, graphite, Colnaghi number: “A 20724”; lower right corner, graphite, erased: “CE” [or CK]. Mount (removed, cut down and now in file), graphite: “John Sell Cotman. / Window between St. Andrew’s Hall and the Dutch Church. Norwich / Preparatory study for the watercolour now at Melbourne. / (see Burlington Magazine. LXXXI, July 1942, p. 159).”.

Information on this object may be incomplete and will be updated as research progresses. We are particularly committed to addressing any discriminatory or offensive language and ideas that might be present in our records. To help improve this record, and to enquire about images of The Courtauld Gallery Collection, please email gallery.collectionsonline@courtauld.ac.ukFind out more about using and licensing our images.

____________________________

Buy a print from our collection