The Church of St. John, Peronne 

John Sell Cotman sketched The Church of St. John, Peronne, using graphite on paper. Cotman was part of a generation of British artists who found new public roles for art, stimulated by the expansion of the art market, new exhibition venues, and the growth of art education. He traveled extensively, sketching architectural subjects. Here we see the church rendered with a sensitivity to the play of light and shadow on its surfaces, also capturing its imposing presence. Cotman’s decision to focus on architecture reflects a broader interest in the historical significance of buildings. In Britain, the gothic revival was well underway, with architects and historians looking back to medieval forms. The study of buildings like this one in France shaped a renewed sense of national identity and social class. To understand Cotman's architectural interests better, we could look at the illustrated books of the period and the records of antiquarian societies. Doing so would help us appreciate the image as a product of cultural and institutional forces.