On the Ramparts at Domfront
On the Ramparts at Domfront
1033
The present work is a fascinating example of the copies that Miles made after his father's work when he was a young man, 22 or 23 in this instance. It is a copy after one of a number of drawings of this view of the ramparts of the old town of Domfront, Normandy, made following a visit by John Sell in August 1820, one of which is in the Tate Collection. According to Miklos Rajnai (John Sell Cotman: Drawings of Normandy in Norwich Castle Museum, 1975), Miles also made a copy of another of his father's Domfront drawings.
Domfront is situated on a bluff overlooking the river Varenne and is said to have been established in the 6th century, around the oratory of the hermit St. Front. The town played an important part in the wars against the English and the French Wars of Religion. Although it overlooks the river, John Sell's version depicts a distant landscape beyond the ramparts. However, Miles Edmund decided to enhance the drawing by turning the landscape into the sea, with shipping.
Dimensions:
1832
Graphite
Signed lower left centre and inscribed with title and date
The Cotman Collection of Art and Books belonging to Dr Henry Lowe and his Wife Judy (nee Cotman)
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, Miles also made a copy of another of his father's Domfront drawings.Domfront is situated on a bluff overlooking the river Varenne and is said to have been established in the 6th century, around the oratory of the hermit St. Front. The town played an important part in the wars against the English and the French Wars of Religion. Although it overlooks the river, John Sell's version depicts a distant landscape beyond the ramparts. However, Miles Edmund decided to enhance the drawing by turning the landscape into the sea, with shipping.){kind=link}