Part of National Museums Liverpool

The Mill, St. Benet's Abbey

John Sell Cotman, 1820s early

LL 3946

Part of

Works on paper

About this object

'The Mill, St. Benet's Abbey' is thought to date to the early 1820s. The inscription '1876' in the lower right corner represents the watercolour's inventory number in the catalogue system Cotman used to record his teaching watercolours and drawings. He lent these works to his pupils to copy. The series was begun in 1806 when he first advertised his services as a teacher in Norwich. It was continued, by Cotman and his children, right up until his death and grew to include over 2000 works.

The remains of St Benet's Abbey stand close to the north bank of the river Bure, south of Horning in Norfolk. This view is from the south, diminishing the bulk of the gatehouse, which is virtually all that survived when this watercolour was made.

Object specifics

  • Artist(s)
    John Sell Cotman (British: English, born:1782-05-16, died:1842-07-24)
  • Date
    1820s early
  • Materials
    Watercolour; Wove paper; Scratching out over pencil
  • Measurements
    image: 28.2 cm x 22.4 cm
  • Physical description
    A view of a mill surrounded by the ruins of St. Benet's Abbey with long grass and water in the foreground.
  • Related people
    John Sell Cotman (Artist/maker) ; Fine Art Society (Previous owner)
  • Other number(s)
    Accession Number: LL 3946
  • Credit line
    Purchased by the Trustees of the Lady Lever Art Gallery in 1947
  • Location
    Item not currently on display
  • Collection
    From the Lady Lever Art Gallery collections

Explore related

Publications

  • Early English Drawings and Watercolours in the Walker Art Gallery

    Edward Morris & Timothy Stevens

    Author: Edward Morris & Timothy Stevens
    Publisher: Liverpool Letterpress Limited, Member of the Steel House Press
    Date: 1968
    Description: Catalogue of Early English Drawings and Watercolours in the Walker Art Gallery collection

Ownership

Previous owners

  • Fine Art Society

    Owned from: Unknown or unrecorded
    How acquired: Unknown or unrecorded
    Owned until: 1947
    Disposal method: Purchased by the Trustees of the Lady Lever Art Gallery in 1947

Inscriptions

Item inscriptions

  • Inscription text: J.S. Cotman
    Inscription method: Watercolour
    Inscription note:
    Inscription location: Front; Lower left
  • Inscription text: 1876
    Inscription method: Watercolour
    Inscription note:
    Inscription location: Front; Lower right
Object view = Fine Art
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