John Joseph Cotman was an artist and teacher of drawing, following in the footsteps of his artist father John Sell Cotman (who married Ann Mills in 1809), and older brother Edmund.
He was sent to work for his uncle, a haberdasher, but spent much of his time making sketches in the countryside. When his father was appointed drawing-master at King's College School in London in 1834, Cotman accompanied him, but returned to Norwich two years later to take over his brother Miles Edmund Cotman's art teaching work there as drawing master.
He suffered from periodic episodes of cerebral excitement followed by depression (recognised as bipolar disorder today). These attacks became more frequent with age. On 24 May 1857 he was admitted to a lunatic asylum in Catton, Northumberland, where he remained until 4 Aug 1857.
On 17 Oct 1865 he was found guilty of larceny at Norwich Crown Court and sentenced to 6 months in jail.
Married Helen Anderson Cooper in 1847.
Children:
John Sell Edmund Cotman 1848-1902
Helen Isabella Cotman 1850-1922
Catherine Cooper Cotman 1851-1905
Harold Arthur Cotman 1852-
Duncan Cotman 1853-
Edith Anne Cotman 1855-1917
1851 census
aged 37, living with wife Helen, 32, daughters Helen, 1, Catherine, 2 months, plus 2 servants in Thorpe Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk.
In 1878 he was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in Norwich with cancer of the tongue from which he died on 15 March 1878.
He was sent to work for his uncle, a haberdasher, but spent much of his time making sketches in the countryside. When his father was appointed drawing-master at King's College School in London in 1834, Cotman accompanied him, but returned to Norwich two years later to take over his brother Miles Edmund Cotman's art teaching work there as drawing master.
He suffered from periodic episodes of cerebral excitement followed by depression (recognised as bipolar disorder today). These attacks became more frequent with age. On 24 May 1857 he was admitted to a lunatic asylum in Catton, Northumberland, where he remained until 4 Aug 1857.
On 17 Oct 1865 he was found guilty of larceny at Norwich Crown Court and sentenced to 6 months in jail.
Married Helen Anderson Cooper in 1847.
Children:
John Sell Edmund Cotman 1848-1902
Helen Isabella Cotman 1850-1922
Catherine Cooper Cotman 1851-1905
Harold Arthur Cotman 1852-
Duncan Cotman 1853-
Edith Anne Cotman 1855-1917
1851 census
aged 37, living with wife Helen, 32, daughters Helen, 1, Catherine, 2 months, plus 2 servants in Thorpe Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk.
In 1878 he was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in Norwich with cancer of the tongue from which he died on 15 March 1878.
John Joseph Cotman was an artist and teacher of drawing, following in the footsteps of his artist father John Sell Cotman (who married Ann Mills in 1809), and older brother Edmund.
He was sent to work for his uncle, a haberdasher, but spent much of his time making sketches in the countryside. When his father was appointed drawing-master at King's College School in London in 1834, Cotman accompanied him, but returned to Norwich two years later to take over his brother Miles Edmund Cotman's art teaching work there as drawing master.
He suffered from periodic episodes of cerebral excitement followed by depression (recognised as bipolar disorder today). These attacks became more frequent with age. On 24 May 1857 he was admitted to a lunatic asylum in Catton, Northumberland, where he remained until 4 Aug 1857.
On 17 Oct 1865 he was found guilty of larceny at Norwich Crown Court and sentenced to 6 months in jail.
Married Helen Anderson Cooper in 1847.
Children:
John Sell Edmund Cotman 1848-1902
Helen Isabella Cotman 1850-1922
Catherine Cooper Cotman 1851-1905
Harold Arthur Cotman 1852-
Duncan Cotman 1853-
Edith Anne Cotman 1855-1917
1851 census
aged 37, living with wife Helen, 32, daughters Helen, 1, Catherine, 2 months, plus 2 servants in Thorpe Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk.
In 1878 he was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in Norwich with cancer of the tongue from which he died on 15 March 1878.
He was sent to work for his uncle, a haberdasher, but spent much of his time making sketches in the countryside. When his father was appointed drawing-master at King's College School in London in 1834, Cotman accompanied him, but returned to Norwich two years later to take over his brother Miles Edmund Cotman's art teaching work there as drawing master.
He suffered from periodic episodes of cerebral excitement followed by depression (recognised as bipolar disorder today). These attacks became more frequent with age. On 24 May 1857 he was admitted to a lunatic asylum in Catton, Northumberland, where he remained until 4 Aug 1857.
On 17 Oct 1865 he was found guilty of larceny at Norwich Crown Court and sentenced to 6 months in jail.
Married Helen Anderson Cooper in 1847.
Children:
John Sell Edmund Cotman 1848-1902
Helen Isabella Cotman 1850-1922
Catherine Cooper Cotman 1851-1905
Harold Arthur Cotman 1852-
Duncan Cotman 1853-
Edith Anne Cotman 1855-1917
1851 census
aged 37, living with wife Helen, 32, daughters Helen, 1, Catherine, 2 months, plus 2 servants in Thorpe Road, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk.
In 1878 he was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in Norwich with cancer of the tongue from which he died on 15 March 1878.
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