Trees by the lake, Peamore Park, near Exeter, Devon

1790–1810

Not on view

Towne often sketched at Peamore Park, the estate of the Hippesley Coxe family near his home in Exeter. This watercolor is distinguished by blue and green washes heightened with warmer browns. In earlier works, Towne typically used pen and ink to outline and distinguish forms but set that practice aside here and created a strong composition using only finely modulated watercolor; he conveyed luxuriant foliage using feathery touches of the brush. Portions of the paper were left in reserve to define tree trunks and branches in the foreground and the technique helps date the drawing to the seventeen nineties or later. An inscription on the verso notes that Towne painted it “on the spot”, anticipating practices of succeeding generations of British watercolorists.

Artwork Details

Title: Trees by the lake, Peamore Park, near Exeter, Devon
Artist: Francis Towne (British, Isleworth, Middlesex 1739–1816 Exeter)
Date: 1790–1810
Medium: Watercolor over traces of graphite; laid down on original mount
Dimensions: sheet: 5 11/16 x 7 1/2 in. (14.5 x 19 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Karen B. Cohen Fund, 2009
Object Number: 2009.342
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

By Francis Towne

In the same medium

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A View near the Arco Scuro, looking towards the Villa Medici, at Rome, Francis Towne British, Watercolor over graphite with pen and brown ink — A View near the Arco Scuro, looking towards the Villa Medici, at Rome
Francis Towne
1785

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

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