Liber Studiorum: Plate 10, The Devil's Bridge, Cardinganshire
1838 · softground etching, from a bound volume containing 48 plates · Sheet: 49.5 x 32 cm (19 1/2 x 12 5/8 in.); Platemark: 18.6 x 12.7 cm (7 5/16 x 5 in.)

Cotman, Liber Studiorum: Plate 10, The Devil's Bridge, Cardinganshire, 1838. softground etching, from a bound volume containing 48 plates.
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Bequest of John Bonebrake
How to look at a Cotman
- Squint at a Cotman until it becomes a jigsaw of three values. Notice the pieces are large and few.
- Follow the main arch at Rievaulx and find the two springing points. The curve is constructed, not guessed.
- In the Normandy castle in graphite, count the stones actually drawn. Then notice where they are: edges, openings, near the ground.
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