Bagnolles des lorne John Sell Cotman (1782-1842)

The drawing presents a landscape study executed in pencil on what appears to be lightly toned paper. The composition is dominated by a densely rendered hillside rising towards the upper portion of the sheet. A cluster of buildings, likely dwellings or structures associated with agricultural activity, are nestled into the slope’s incline. These forms are suggested through rapid, gestural lines that convey volume and spatial recession rather than precise architectural detail.
The artist employed a technique characterized by energetic hatching and cross-hatching to build up tonal variations across the hillside. This creates an impression of rugged terrain and atmospheric perspective; distant elements appear lighter and less defined. The foreground is treated with a looser, more agitated application of lines, suggesting vegetation or uneven ground cover. A winding path or road cuts through this area, leading towards the buildings on the slope.
Several figures are indicated within the scene, though they remain rudimentary in their depiction. One appears to be standing near the base of the hill, while others seem to populate the structures situated higher up. These figures contribute to a sense of human presence and activity within the landscape.
Scattered across the surface of the drawing are notations written in pencil – likely identifying marks or brief observations related to the scene. The handwriting is somewhat hurried and appears integrated into the overall composition, suggesting that these notes were made during the act of observation and recording.
The work conveys a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. It seems less concerned with achieving photographic realism than with capturing the essential character of the place – its topography, atmosphere, and human occupation. The drawing’s unfinished quality and rapid execution suggest it may be a preparatory study for a larger work or an exercise in plein air observation. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation and a keen awareness of the interplay between nature and human settlement.