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A View near the Arco Scuro, looking towards the Villa Medici, at Rome

1785
Not on view
Towne left Exeter, in southwest England, to visit Italy in 1780–81. After his return, a former student commissioned this Roman view showing a steep road falling away over a hill toward the Villa Medici (now the Académie Française). Towne made a series of sketches along the rural road behind the villa in November 1780 and used one as the basis of this later composition. His interest lay not in famous landmarks but in capturing effects of light falling across overgrown foliage, contrasted with patches of deep shade. Employing an innovative method to create tone, he began with layers of pure color, then moved on to pigments mixed with brown or black. This reversal of the traditional order allowed greater subtlety, particularly in the darks.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: A View near the Arco Scuro, looking towards the Villa Medici, at Rome
  • Artist: Francis Towne (British, Isleworth, Middlesex 1739–1816 Exeter)
  • Date: 1785
  • Medium: Watercolor over graphite with pen and brown ink
  • Dimensions: sheet: 12 13/16 x 18 7/8 in. (32.5 x 48 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Walter and Leonore Annenberg Acquisitions Endowment and Harry G. Sperling Funds, 2010
  • Object Number: 2010.439
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon, Francis Towne British, Watercolor and pen and ink on two joined sheets
Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon
Francis Towne
1773–80, with additions in 1805
An ivy covered ruin, Francis Towne British, Watercolor with pen and brown ink with traces of graphite
An ivy covered ruin
Francis Towne
late 1780s–early 1790s
View of Lake Como, Francis Towne British, Pen and brown ink and watercolor
View of Lake Como
Francis Towne
August 27, 1781
View of Lake Como with Monte Legnone, Francis Towne British, Pen and brown ink and watercolor
View of Lake Como with Monte Legnone
Francis Towne
August 27, 1781
Near Glaris [Glarus], Switzerland, Francis Towne British, Pen and black ink, brush and gray wash, over traces of graphite
Near Glaris [Glarus], Switzerland
Francis Towne
C. & I. Honig
September 2, 1781

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