Artwork
An Old House in the Rue Saint Jean at Caen, Normandy
An Old House in the Rue Saint Jean at Caen, Normandy is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist John Sell Cotman. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1817 drawing by John Sell Cotman is a landscape study executed in graphite and wash on wove paper. It depicts a weathered stone building in Caen, Normandy.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows a tall, old building with three figures in the street below. A person leans out of the middle window, while the others are empty. The scene focuses on the building's architecture, with detailed carvings and texture.
Technique & Style
Cotman used light shading to convey depth and texture, blending topographical precision with atmospheric effects. This approach is characteristic of his work and reflects the emerging values of early 19th-century British art.
Context
Cotman's work was influenced by his travels and studies with prominent artists. The drawing reflects the artistic movement of the time, which began to emphasize emotion and nature.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Sell Cotman (16 May 1782 – 24 July 1842) was an English marine and landscape painter, etcher, illustrator, and a leading member of the Norwich School of painters.
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