John Sell Cotman (Norwich 1782-1842 London)

This beautiful and complex watercolour must date from 1807-8, when Cotman was living in Norwich. A pencil drawing of the same composition, which shows the building and figures with only minor differences, was sold at Sotheby's on 4 July 2001, lot 213; it is inscribed by Cotman 'An Old Collegiate House at Conway'. Cotman's original on-the-spot sketches of this building appear to be lost. They must have dated from his visit to Conway in 1802, when he also painted a watercolour of the same building (Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford, see E. Joll, Cecil Higgins Art Gallery: Watercolours and Drawings, 2002, p. 68, no. P. 613, illustrated). The watercolour is inscribed with the date 1802 on the back and is quite different in character. It is loosely painted in a Girtin-inspired manner, with little colour and a minimum of architectural detail. It does not include the chimney on the College House, nor are there any figures in the street.

Cotman's etching of the College House was published on 30 May 1811 (copy in Norwich Castle Museum). The etching closely follows the present watercolour rather than Cotman's quite different earlier depiction of the subject.