After my abortive visit to Tate Britain on Friday, today's trip to the Dulwich Picture Gallery was a success. I went to look at the work of John Sell Cotman - mostly watercolours but also drawings and prints from etchings. Some of the work was of places in England, but the majority recorded his stays in France, documenting the architecture, mainly churches and cathedrals. There were also pieces from some of his contemporaries, including Turner. He did a detailed study of Rouen cathedral, just beautiful, but, whether it was artistic licence or laziness, omitted the magnificent tower, shown very clearly in the works of other artists!
My favourite piece in this show was a painting, A Ruined House. This was an old Tudor house painted in greys, slate and ochre composed of squares and triangles; the viewer can see right into the rooms through broken walls, with mounds of earth inside and outside the building and one external wall fallen away. It was just beautiful with the colours still fresh and vibrant.
My favourite piece in this show was a painting, A Ruined House. This was an old Tudor house painted in greys, slate and ochre composed of squares and triangles; the viewer can see right into the rooms through broken walls, with mounds of earth inside and outside the building and one external wall fallen away. It was just beautiful with the colours still fresh and vibrant.