- Description
-
- Creator
- Francis Towne (1739 - 1816)
- Title(s)
-
- Near Rocca di Papa
- Date
- 1781
- Medium
- Pencil, pen and grey ink, grey and blue washes
- Dimensions
-
- image width 402mm,
- image length 250mm
- Support
- thick wove paper, unevenly cut, creased at bottom
- Inscription
-
- sheet, verso
- “No.48 / Near Rocca del Papa / In the Wood of Chesnut Trees / Francis Towne / 1781”
- Object Type
- Monochrome wash
-
- Collection
- Catalogue Number
- FT279
- Description Sources
- Exmination; 1980 Birmingham catalogue (image)
Provenance
Bequeathed by the artist in 1816 to James White of Exeter (1744–1825), on whose death it passed to Towne’s residuary legatee John Herman Merivale (1779–1844) and his successors. Merivale’s granddaughters Maria Sophia Merivale (1853–1928) and Judith Ann Merivale (1860–1945), both of Oxford, inherited the drawing in May 1915 (BP17). Judith Merivale sold the drawing to Squire Gallery in November 1933 for £7 10s. It was acquired by J. Leslie Wright (1862–1953), who bequeathed it to the present owner, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Inv. P393'53). This is probably the drawing described by Colnaghi as “‘In the Wood of the Chestnut Trees’ pen, wash and watercolour signed & dated 1781”, which Mrs F. L. Evans sold to Colnaghi (no.A13024) on 2 June 1945. Three days later Colnaghi sold it for £45 to “J F Wright”.
- Associated People & Organisations
- Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham, 1953, Inv.P393'53
- James Leslie Wright (1862 - 1953), 5 June 1945, GBP 45
Sold by Colnaghi for £45 to "J F Wright". - [?] P&D Colnaghi & Co, London, London, 2 June 1945, no.A13024
- [?] Mrs F. L. Evans
- Squire Gallery, London, November 1933, GBP 7.10s
- Judith Ann Merivale (1860 - 1945), Oxford, May 1915, BP17
- Maria Sophia Merivale (1853 - 1928), Oxford, May 1915, BP17
- John Herman Merivale (1779 - 1844), 1825
- James White (1744 - 1825), Exeter, 1816
- Exhibition History
- Exhibition of Masters of British Water-Colour (17th-19th Centuries) The J. Leslie Wright Collection, Royal Academy, 1949, no. 129
- Watercolours from the Birmingham Art Gallery, Worthing Art Gallery, 1960, no. 16
- De Englese Aquarel uit de 18de Eeuw, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Albertina, Vienna, 1965, no. 123
- Two Centuries of English Painting, National Gallery, Prague; National Slovak Gallery, Bratislava, 1969, no. 139
- English Watercolours and Drawings: The J.Leslie Wright Bequest [catalogue indexed as 'Rose 1980'], Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, 1980, no. 64
- Bibliography
- Adrian Bury, Francis Towne - Lone Star of Water-Colour Painting, Charles Skilton: London, 1962, p. 135
- Kenneth Garlick, 'The J. Leslie Wright Collection of English Watercolours', Apollo, No. 74, Apollo Magazine Ltd: London, 1969, p. 282
Other entries in Italy Series, April to June 1781
Thirteen Miles on the Road from Rome to Tivoli
A View of Rocca di Papa with Part of the Convent
A View of the Spot where Hannibal is said to have looked at Rome
A View of the Spot from which Hannibal is said to have looked at Rome
Monte Porzio Catone from the Park of the Villa Mondragone at Frascati
Blasted Pine Tree in the Villa Mondragone, Frascati
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