John Sell Cotman (1782-1842)
The lanscape painter John Sell Cotman, along with John Crome,
lead the Norwich
School of painters. Cotman was born in Norwich, and during his life lived there, in
Yarmouth, and in London, becoming drawing master in a London school (where
Rossetti was a pupil). He also travelled on the Continent, most notably a series of three
trips to Normandy, paid for by a rich patron. He exhibited at the Royal Society of
Painters in Water-Colours, and became ARSA in 1825, RSA in 1834. As well as a very
large output of paintings - mainly watercolour, with few in oil - he also made many
architectural engravings and some thousands of sketches for his pupils to copy from.
His more successful followers include John Thirtle, E. T. Daniell, A. and J. Stannard,
and his two sons Miles Edmund Cotman and John Joseph Cotman. Further family
members became artists (not particularly memorable ones) during the 19th Century.
A large collection of Cotman's works may be seen at the Castle
Museum in Norwich.
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