John Sell Cotman (1782-1842). Major watercolour painter of English landscape, but also oil painter and print-maker of architectural subjects. Son of Edmund Cotman, a hairdresser of Norwich. Educated at Norwich Grammar School. Travelled to London in 1789. Worked in London colouring prints for Ackerman and met Dr Monro. Became member of the sketching club created by Thomas Girtin. Exhibited at the Royal Academy. Returned to Norwich in 1806 and joined the Norwich Society of Painters. Published a number of volumes of etchings on architectural subjects including: Miscellaneous Etchings of Architectural Antiquities in Yorkshire (1812) and Architectural Antiquities of Norfolk (1811-1818). Visited Normandy in 1817-1818 and in 1820 and made drawings for Dawson Turner's Tour of Normandy (1822). Appointed to the post of teacher of drawing at Kings College School in 1834 and lived with his family at 42 Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, close to Ruskin 's birthplace at number 54.
Died on 24 July, 1842. Buried in Marylebone. Ruskin appears never to have discussed this major artist.