John Sell Cotman's "Architectural Antiquities of Normandy" etchings from 1822

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Architectural Antiquities of Normandy
by John Sell Cotman; Accompanied by Historical and Descriptive Notices
by Dawson Turner, Esq. F.R. and A.S.

Published in London by J. & A. Arch in 1822

Original 190-year-old etchings on wove paper
Sheet size: 13.5 x 19.25 inches (one double page noted below)

John Sell Cotman (1782-1842) was an English landscape painter (mainly in watercolour) and etcher. He moved from Norwich to London in 1798, aged 16, and became a member of Dr. Monro's circle. As far as is known, he had no formal tuition in art, but by 1800 he was already accomplished enough to have six of his watercolours accepted for the annual Royal Academy exhibition.

Between 1800 and 1805 he made several sketching tours to Wales and Yorkshire and these resulted in some of his finest works. They did not bring him much success, however, and in 1806 he returned to his native city, where, together with Crome, he became the most important representative of the Norwich School. As well as depicting local scenery, he made several trips to France, which bore fruit in Architectural Antiquities of Normandy (1822), one of various books he illustrated with his etchings, which are now offered below.

In 1834 he moved to London to become professor of drawing at King's College, a position he held until his death. He was delighted to be offered the post, as he often had difficulty in making a living with his work and he was in debt at the time. Throughout his life he was also subject to periods of melancholia and despondency.

His sons, Miles Edward Cotman and John Joseph Cotman, also became painters of note.

[Refs: Adele M. Holcomb, John Sell Cotman, British Museum Publications, 1978; The Oxford Dictionary of Art]

Occasional fox marks present in the margins of some prints.
Please click on the thumbnails for an enlarged view.

Castle of Arques

Plate 1

Castle of Arques
principal entrance

Plate 2

Abbey Church of Jumieges
West front

$55

Plate 5

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville
West front

$55

Plate 5

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville
View from the South East

$60

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville

Plate 7

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville
West entrance

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville

Plate 9

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville
Sculptured Capitals

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville

Plate 10

Capitals in the Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville
A.B. Basso Relieves in the trancepts

Plate 11

Abbey Church of St. Georges de Bocherville
Sculpture on a suite of Capitals in the Cloister, &c

$40

Plate 12

Church of Graville

$55

Plate 13

Castle of St. Sauveur le Vicomte
near Valonges

Abbey Church of St. Sauveur le Vicomte

Plate 14

Abbey Church of St. Sauveur le Vicomte

Plate 16

Church of Than

$45

Plate 17

Church of Tamerville

$55

Plate 18

Tower of the Church of St. Michel de Vaucelles, Caen

$60

Plate 19

Church of St. Michel de Vaucelles, Caen

Plate 20

Statue of William
Duke of Normandy

$50

Plate 24

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
West front

$65

Plate 25

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
East end

$55

Plate 26

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
East end interior

$55

Plate 27

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
North side of the Choir, upper compartment

$45

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen-Arches under the central Tower looking from the South Transept

Plate 28

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
Arches under the central Tower looking from the South Transept

Plate 30

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
Interior of the Nave, looking west

$50

Plate 31

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
South side of the Nave, exterior

$45

Plate 33

Abbey Church of the Holy Trinity, Caen
Capitals in the Choir

$45

Church of St. Jacques, at Dieppe

Plate 35

Church of St. Jacques, at Dieppe
West front

Plate 36

Church of St. Jacques, at Dieppe
East end

$55

Plate 37

Tower of the Church of Haute Allemagne near Caen

$50

Plate 38

Collegiate Church of St. Hildebert at Gournay
West front

$65

Plate 39

Collegiate Church of St. Hildebert at Gournay
View across the Nave into the North transept

$50

Plate 39

Collegiate Church of St. Hildebert at Gournay
Capitals

$45

Plate 41

Collegiate Church of St. Hildebert at Gournay
Capitals

$40

Plate 42

Chapel of the Hospital of St. Julien, near Rouen
South side, and elevations of west Doorway, interior & exterior

$40

Plate 43

Chapel of the Hospital of St. Julien, near Rouen
Interior, Choir & part of Nave

$45

Plate 44

Church of Lérÿ
near Pont-de-l'Arche
General view, looking south east

$60

Plate 45

Church of Lérÿ
near Pont-de-l'Arche

$60

Plate 46

Church of Lérÿ
near Pont-de-l'Arche

$45

Plate 47

Elevations of the Church of Colomby near Valognes

$55

Plate 48

Chapel in the Castle at Caen

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