John Sell Cotman, “Plate 45: Study of a Sailor”, 1813–1838

John Sell Cotman (1782–1842)

“Plate 45: Study of a Sailor”, 1813–1838, the final plate in the series, “Liber Studiorum”, published in London 1838 by Henry George Bohn (1796–1884) in “Liber Studiorum: A Series of Sketches and Studies by John Sell Cotman, Esp.”

Etching on cream wove paper with wide margins.

Size: (sheet) 33.9 x 28.8 cm; (plate) 10.8 x 8.1 cm; (image borderline) 8.3 x 5.9 cm.

Inscribed in plate: (outside the image borderline at upper right corner) “48” (within the image borderline at upper right corner) “[artist’s monogram]”.

Popham 341 (Arthur Ewart Popham 1922, "The Etchings of John Sell Cotman." Print Collector's Quarterly, vol. 9, p. 271, cat. no. 341 [https://archive.org/details/printcollectorsq93carr/page/270/mode/2up]).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (not reproduced): “Plate 48. Study of a sailor, standing to right, wearing a broad-rimmed cap, breeches, and canvas bag around his waist and shoulder, carrying a coil of rope on a double-pronged wooden stick over his shoulder; proof before letters./ Etching” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1859-0528-192 [BM nv. no. 1859,0528.192])

Note that the British Museum holds a related graphite drawing with a light gum wash in the reverse direction, showing a “squat sailor dressed in knee breeches carrying a coil of rope over one shoulder on a forked pole”; see https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1902-0514-211 (BM inv. no. 1902,0514.211).

Condition: a strong impression with a portion of the printer’s thumbprint at upper right, otherwise, a faultless impression with generous margins in pristine condition with no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains, foxing or signs of handling.

I am selling this extraordinarily well-preserved and rare etching by one of the acknowledged masters of the English landscape, for AU$320 (equivalent to approximately US$206.41, EUR 183.64, or GBP 154.45 at the time of listing) and includes Express Mail Service (EMS) postage and handling to any worldwide destination. Please note that any import duties or taxes levied by the destination country, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the purchase price. Payment is requested in Australian dollars (AU$320).

If you are interested in purchasing this fine study of an early nineteenth century sailor, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.