'Doorway of the Refectory, Rievaulx Abbey', John Sell Cotman

Artwork details

Artist

John Sell Cotman (1782‑1842)

Title

Doorway of the Refectory, Rievaulx Abbey

Date 1803

MediumWatercolour and graphite on paper

Dimensionssupport: 319 x 255 mm support, secondary: 327 x 264 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996

Reference

T08248

View this artwork by appointment, at Tate Britain's Prints and Drawings Rooms

Display caption

This watercolour was made in 1803 on the first of Cotman's visits to Yorkshire to stay with the Cholmeley family at Brandsby Hall some fifteen niles north of York. It reveals a new interest in his work in the presentation of isolated motifs, and is one of the earliest drawings to show the emergence of his distinctive watercolour style. This style, seen especially in his watercolours made on the banks of the River Greta (no.86), is characterised by the use of carefully ordered areas of flat colour. Cotman drew the famous ruined Cistercian abbey at Rievaulx near Helmsley several times on his trip to North Yorkshire in 1803… (read more)

September 2004