John Sell Cotman, “Plate 47. Study of a Male Figure”, 1813–38

John Sell Cotman (1782–1842)

“Plate 47. Study of a Male Figure” (also known as “A Study”), 1813–38

Contextual Commentary:

This etching is based on Rembrandt’s page of studies executed between 1634 and 1638, “Study of the actor Willem Ruyter as a countryman, with alternative study of his head, and a bust-length study of a figure (c.q. kan?) holding a jug”, held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (acc. no. DYCE.435); see https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1023936/study-of-the-actor-willem-drawing-rembrandt-van-rijn/.

The V & A in its description of this drawing offers the following insights: “Rembrandt made several studies of the famous actor Willem Ruyter. The smock and cap are probably the costume of a country peasant worn by Ruyter in a popular play of the time. Rembrandt tinted the paper light brown to contrast with the dark ink he used for the drawing. The smudges of ink suggest that he used is finger to rub out areas with which he was unhappy.” (op. cit.)

Remarkably, V & A records indicate that Cotman himself likely owned this original Rembrandt drawing in London around the time he produced this plate. Furthermore, while most other plates in the wider series utilise soft-ground etching to mimic graphite sketches, Cotman opted here for a crisp, traditional line-etching technique—a deliberate choice that preserves the sharp pen-and-ink quality of the Rembrandt masterwork in his possession.

Technical Details & Condition:

Etching on heavy buff-coloured wove paper with full margins and the original deckle edge on the left. Plate 47 from the 1838 Liber Studiorum published by Henry George Bohn. Strong, near-faultless impression in near-pristine condition, free of defects.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 47.0 x 31.4 cm
• Image borderline: 17.0 x 10.7 cm

In-Plate lettering:

• Upper right corner: “47”

References:

• Popham 340: Arthur Ewart Popham “The Etchings of John Sell Cotman” in Print Collector's Quarterly, vol. 9, 1922, p. 271, cat. no. 340 — Available via Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/printcollectorsq93carr/page/270/mode/2up
• British Museum, museum number 1859,0528.195: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1859-0528-195

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Please note: The scan contrast has been digitally enhanced to show the print’s fine details more clearly. As a result, the digital image tones may not fully reflect the subtle tonal qualities of the physical original.