Skip to content

Home
Search
Your album
Learn more

Images

Going to Vicovarro

image © By permission of the Warden and Scholars of Winchester College | All Rights Reserved

Start Zooming Stop Zooming

Next
Previous
Current search
Add To Album

Date

1781

Artist

Francis Towne (1739/40-1816)

Collection

Winchester College

Image Link

http://winchestercollections.co.uk/collection/towne-vicovarro/

Description

Pencil, pen and grey ink, grey and blue wash, watermark: J. WHATMAN; signed, inscribed and dated verso: Going to / Castello Madamo Vicavasso / No.5 / April 22d.1781 / Sun on the left hand setting behind the extreme distance / Francis Towne (H. 23cm, W. 32cm)
Vicovarro lies at the head of the Licenza Valley in Latium. In the late 18th century it was identified as the site of Horace’s villa and soon became place of pilgrimage for Grand Tourists. Francis Towne travelled there from Rome, about 30 miles to the south west, returning via Tivoli a few days later. He was clearly captivated by the landscape around Vicovarro: this is one of six views he made of the area, all dated 22 April 1781.
Towne was the first English draughtsman regularly to note the time of day, and lighting conditions, on his drawings. The inscription on the reverse of the present drawing is typical: ‘Sun on the left hand setting behind the extreme distance’. The evening light is effectively conveyed in this almost monochrome drawing. Areas of light blue indicate sunlight still falling on the mountainside, while overlapping washes of grey ink evoke the deepening shadows beneath the trees.

Image Licence

All Rights Reserved

Image Credit

image © By permission of the Warden and Scholars of Winchester College

Location

Vicovaro, Lazio, Italy

Country

Tags

Mountains
Roads
Trees
Hills

Category

Landscapes & Seascapes

Glossary
Search tips

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform

© 2024 Watercolour World | Technology by The Museum Platform