East End of Saint Jacques at Dieppe, Normandy 1819

John Sell Cotman made this watercolor drawing, East End of Saint Jacques at Dieppe, Normandy in the early 19th century. We see a Gothic church, a style that evoked the medieval past, but what ideas and feelings did it evoke at this time? In France and England, Gothic architecture became a focus for national pride and identity. But this was also a time of great social upheaval after the French Revolution. Consider how this style of architecture communicated the importance of historical continuity. Cotman was part of a circle of artists and intellectuals that were passionate about medieval art and architecture, and this interest was connected to conservative political views. By studying his personal papers, correspondence, and the publications of his peers, we can better understand the complex social and political meanings that were encoded in his vision of this ancient building. Art is never neutral. It is always part of a conversation with the culture that produced it.