John Sell Cotman. John Sell Cotman was an English marine and landscape painter, etcher, illustrator, author and a leading member of the Norwich School of painters.
Cotman was born in Norwich, on 16 May 1782, the son of Edmund Cotman and his wife Ann, and was baptised at St Mary Coslany on 9 June. His father was a prosperous silk merchant and lace dealer.
He was educated at the Norwich School. He showed a talent for art from an early age and would often go out on frequent drawing trips into the countryside around Norwich.
His father intended him to go into the family business but instead, intent on a career in art, he moved to London in 1798, initially making a living through commissions from print-sellers. He came under the patronage of Dr. Thomas Monro, physician to Bridewell and the Bethlehem Hospital, whose house in Adelphi Terrace was a studio and a meeting place for artists.
There Cotman made the acquaintance of J. M. W. Turner, Peter de Wint and Thomas Girtin, who became an influential figure in his artistic development. He joined a sketching club started by Girtin, and went on drawing expeditions to Wales and Surrey. In 1800 Cotman exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time, showing five scenes of Surrey and one of Harlech Castle. He is thought to have spent the summers of 1800 and 1801 touring Wales, as he showed Welsh scenes at the Royal Academy in 1801 and 1802. In 1800 he was a
Cotman was born in Norwich, on 16 May 1782, the son of Edmund Cotman and his wife Ann, and was baptised at St Mary Coslany on 9 June. His father was a prosperous silk merchant and lace dealer.
He was educated at the Norwich School. He showed a talent for art from an early age and would often go out on frequent drawing trips into the countryside around Norwich.
His father intended him to go into the family business but instead, intent on a career in art, he moved to London in 1798, initially making a living through commissions from print-sellers. He came under the patronage of Dr. Thomas Monro, physician to Bridewell and the Bethlehem Hospital, whose house in Adelphi Terrace was a studio and a meeting place for artists.
There Cotman made the acquaintance of J. M. W. Turner, Peter de Wint and Thomas Girtin, who became an influential figure in his artistic development. He joined a sketching club started by Girtin, and went on drawing expeditions to Wales and Surrey. In 1800 Cotman exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time, showing five scenes of Surrey and one of Harlech Castle. He is thought to have spent the summers of 1800 and 1801 touring Wales, as he showed Welsh scenes at the Royal Academy in 1801 and 1802. In 1800 he was a
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