Monday, December 11, 2017

Watercolor Landscapes by Francis Towne - 1780s

Francis Towne
The Source of the Arveyron
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Toward the Head of the Lake of Como
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
The Lake of Como
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

"Francis Towne (1739-1816) was a British watercolour landscape painter and teacher, active in his native London and in Exeter.  In 1780-81, the middle-aged Towne was able to make a belated Italian study-journey.  This trip was strongly formative of his mature style, perhaps as much for what he learned from other English watercolourists there as from the sights or from Italian art.  He became reasonably well known during his lifetime, but failed repeatedly at election to the Royal Academy, and soon fell into neglect after his death.  Towne remained an obscure figure until the early 20th century, when he was rediscovered and promoted by the collector Paul Oppé.  The writings of Oppé and others created a revival of interest.  By the 1950s Francis Towne was widely recognised as an important figure, with paintings displayed in many major museums."

 based on biographical notes from Tate Gallery, London

Francis Towne
The Lake of Como, no. 26
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
The Top of the Splügen Pass I
ca. 1780-81
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
The Top of the Splügen Pass II
ca. 1780-81
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Le Rêve
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Monte Cavo I
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Monte Cavo II
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Near Florence
ca. 1780-81
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Rocks and Trees at Tivoli
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Neptune's Grotto at Tivoli
1781
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
The Walls of Rome
ca. 1780-81
watercolor
Tate Gallery

Francis Towne
Naples and Capri
1786
watercolor
Tate Gallery