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THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTION

GROUP OF FAMILY PORTRAITS

GROUP OF FAMILY PORTRAITS

10 by 7 1/2 in., 25.5 by 19 cm. and smaller

nine including; Sir Henry Charles Englefield, aged 52, his sister Mrs Teresa Anne Cholmeley, aged 48, her husband Francis Cholmeley, aged 53, their children; Francis Cholmeley, aged 20, another portrait of Francis Cholmeley, aged 22, Anne Cholmeley, aged 17, Mary Catherine Cholmeley, aged 16, Katherine Henrietta Cholmeley, aged, 14 and Harriet Cholmeley, aged 11

the first signed l.r.: Sir H.C.Englefield Bart / J.S. Cotman Delin/ July 6th 1804; the portrait of Teresa Anne Cholmeley dated l.r.: Sept 10 1803, each inscribed (backboard verso); with the date of the drawing and the age and identity of the sitter

pencil

Quantity: 9

PROVENANCE

Commissioned directly from the artist;
by family descent

EXHIBITED

National Gallery, London, Exhibition of Works by John Sell Cotman, April - July, 1922, four portraits exhibited as no. 198 'Portraits of Sir Harry Englefield and a Lady of the Cholmeley Family,' and no. 201 'Two Portraits of the Cholmeley Family' ;
Miklos Rajnai, Marjorie Allthorpe-Guyton, John Sell Cotman; Early Drawings (1798-1812) in Norwich Castle Museum, exibition catalogue 1979, p.43, no. 14-17, as four unidentified sitters dated 1801;
Bowes Museum and Harewood House Trust, Cotman in the North, 2005, pp.15-24, pl. 11-19

LITERATURE

Sydney Kitson, The Life of John Sell Cotman, 1937, pp. 47-65, pl. 23 (the portrait of Sir H.C. Englefield illustrated):
Adele M Holcomb, John Sell Cotman, 1978, the Portrait of Sir HC Englefield, p. 9 and 35, pl. 11 (illustrated)

NOTE

In 1803 Mrs Cholmeley of Brandsby, Yorkshire (portrait II) engaged the young John Sell Cotman to give drawing lessons to her four daughters. As these delicately drawn and intimate portraits by the treasured 'Cotty' clearly demonstrate, Cotman became much more than a drawing master to the family. The affection was mutual as Cotman later reflected, his time with the Chomeley's were 'the happiest and blithesomest hours of my life."

Cotman completed his early artistic training colouring prints for Rudolf Ackermann in London, whilst also joining the evening drawing classes of Dr. Thomas Monro. By 1802 Cotman began exhibiting watercolours at the Royal Academy and left Ackermann's to join fellow artist Paul Sandby Munn at premises on Bond Street. The following year both artists aimed to take a summer tour in the North, following the footsteps of earlier Monro students such as Girtin and Turner.

Dr. Monro was friends with the highly regarded antiquary, scientist and eminent art collector Sir Henry Charles Englefield (portrait I) and possibly introduced him to Cotman. Englefield's distinguised art collection included works by Tintoretto, Reynolds, Turner amongst others (see his sale, Christie's, London, 6th March 1823), however it was his enduring belief in Cotman which led to the introduction to his sister Mrs Teresa Anne Cholmeley in 1803, and later financial support.

Mrs Teresa Anne Cholmeley (portrait II) was an educated woman, but as mother to four daughters her chief concern would have been their education, refinement and successful marriage. Her family nickname of 'Pesh' or 'Peshey' perhaps speaks for itself. Mrs Cholmeley married Francis Chomeley in 1782 (portrait III) who had recently inherited Brandsby, near York. Little evidence of Mr Chomeley's character survives but he was recorded as a gentle and respected man, active on the grand jury of the county at York.

Francis Cholmeley the son and heir (portraits IV & IV), is well known today through the over two thousand letters exchanged between him and his family (now in York Record Office). Educated at Edinburgh University, he went onto pursue a career in law in London in 1805 and inherited Brandsby in 1808 on the premature death of his father.

Anne Cholmeley, the eldest daughter (portrait six) was just 17 at the time of this drawing. The year 1803 was to mark her debut into York society sometimes on the arm of Cotman in her brother's absence. Mary Catherine and Katherine Henrietta followed aged 16 and 14 respectively (portraits VII & VIII) with the youngest Harriet only 11 years old (portrait VIIII) when these portraits were drawn. The latter is a particulaly sentimental portrait of 'Cotty's' favourite who was to die prematurely in 1817 aged only 22 years old. A charming letter from Harriet to her brother Francis, dated the 10th July 1803 record's Cotman and Munn's arrival at Brandsby and the initial impression they made;

'Mr Munn and Mr Cotman are two artists of great merit, indeed.. I think their sketches superior to any I have seen. Cotman is very young (then 21), Munn between 30 and 40 (actually thirty) and is a well established artist. He draws with a rapidity and command of his pencil that is quite wonderful. I wish you could see them. Munn is rough, perculiar mannered man but very shrewd and douer, and of course very entertaining. Cotman much more maniered and gentleman like' (as quoted in David Hill, Cotman in the North, 2005, p. 32).

Cotman was later invited to complete two pencil portraits of Sir Henry Charles Englefield (one of which is portrait I c. 1804) to fulfil a promise made to Mrs Cholmeley. It had been decided to have the Cotman set of family portraits framed and completed with the inclusion of Sir Englefield so that they could be displayed at Tilney Street, London with Mrs Cholmeley's mother.