Francis Towne

Probably, London, 20 Lower Brook Street, 1805;
Probably, London, The Fine Art Society, 1939, no. 19;
Probably, London, The Fine Art Society, 1941, no. 4

The pigments have remained strong in this watercolour. However, the sheet has been discoloured. As a result it has discoloured somewhat. The sheet is laid down on its original mount. For further information on this lot please contact either Mark Griffith-Jones (0207 293 5083) or Emmeline Hallmark (0207 293 5407) mark.griffithjones@sothebys.com emmeline.hallmark@sothebys.com
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It has been suggested that this watercolour dates from the 1790s. In September 1780 Towne travelled to Rome where, except for a brief visit to Naples, he remained until the late summer of 1781. He then embarked on his return journey to England, passing through Switzerland and France. By the 2^nd September he had arrived at Glarus, a village in a remote valley in eastern Switzerland.

The precise whereabouts of the drawing from which the present watercolour was completed is unknown. The work does however have an affinity with a pen and black ink and grey wash drawing, dated 2^nd September 1781, and entitled Near Glarus, Switzerland (Metropolitan Museum of Art: 68.93). There is also another associated drawing entitled Panten-Bruck which was executed a few miles from Glarus on the 3^rd September 1781 (Leeds City Art Galleries 13.209.53).

It has been suggested that this work was included by Towne in his 1805 exhibition, held at 20 Lower Brook Street, London. We would like to thank Dr Richard Stephens for his help in cataloguing this work.