THE NORWICH SCHOOL

The Norwich School of the early nineteen hundreds is a rare instance of a group of provincial painters forming a school. Norwich had a thriving industrial base so therefore had a benefactor contingent to support these artists. Known originally as the Norwich Society of Artists its two main figures were John Crome and John Sell Cotman. They also had a number of  friends colleagues and followers who found inspiration in the beautiful Norfolk countryside. This society also included Joseph Stannard, John Thirtle, James Stark and Robert Dixon.  The character of this gathering of artists and amateurs happened in 1803 through evening meetings, exhibitions and sketching parties. They soon achieved a collective identity which made it possible to regard them as a school. Although they developed no common style they did influence each other and in this respect created a stronger cohesiveness as a group. The founder and leader and father figure in the early days was John Crome.

  When John Crome died in 1821, John Sell Cotman became its leading exponent with his very recognizable and idiosyncratic style especially in his masterful watercolors. Between the years 1810 and 1824 Cotman produced some of the finest work to come from any member of the Norwich School. He was the only figure of the school to travel extensively, initially on tours with Thomas Girtin to North Wales and then Yorkshire but later to Normandy where he produced two sets of etchings; two of which are represented here, ‘ Castle Falaise’ and ‘Chateau Gaillard’ are amongst the finest. From the Welsh visit he produced the soft-ground etchings ‘ Cader Idris’ and ‘Tan-y-Blwch’ ; these two examples have a plein-air feel to them. Indeed it is in these etchings that he captures the qualities of his most vivacious pencil drawings. Robert Dixon and Joseph Stannard both portrayed local Norfolk scenes, rural cottage life from the former and coastal life from the latter.

John Crome  

John Crome 1768 - 1821, Composition, Sandy Road through Woodland, 1816  Etching.

John Crome 1768 - 1821,  At Bawburgh 1813  Etching.

John Crome 1768 - 1821,  Rustic Road with Barn, 1813, Etching.



John Sell Cotman  

John Sell Cotman 1782 - 1842,  Cader Idris 1808,  Soft-ground etching.

John Sell Cotman  1782 - 1842, Tan-Y-Bwlch, North Wales ,1808  Soft-ground etching.

John Sell Cotman  1782 - 1842,  On the Yare, Norfolk, 1820  Soft-ground etching.

John Sell Cotman  1782 - 1842,  Chateau Gaillard, Normandy, 1822  Etching.

 John Sell Cotman 1782 - 1842, Castle Falaise, Normandy,1822 Etching.


Joseph Stannard

Joseph Stannard  1797 - 1830, On the Beach at Mundesley, 1827, Etching.


Robert Dixon

Robert Dixon 1780 - 1815,  Cottages at Wymondham, 1810, Soft-ground etching.


John Middleton

John Middleton  1826 - 1856, View at Gunton Park, 1845, Etching.


Miles Edmund Cotman

Miles Edmund Cotman  1810 - 1858, View at Surlingham, 1838, Etching


Henry Davy

Henry Davy 1793 - 1865,  North Gateway, Mettingham Castle, Suffolk, 1810, Etching