- Description
-
- Creator
- Francis Towne (1739 - 1816)
- Title(s)
-
- Frascati
- Date
- 1781
- Medium
- Pencil (?), pen and ink, grey wash
- Dimensions
-
- image width 216mm,
- image length 317mm
- Inscription
-
- verso
- “No.57 Duke de Braciana. Frescati / Francis Towne / 1781”
- partly visible through the recto
- Object Type
- Monochrome wash
-
- Catalogue Number
- FT287
- Description Sources
- Paul Oppé notes; Examination (image)
Provenance
Bequeathed by the artist in 1816 to James White of Exeter (1744–1825), on whose death it reverted 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 (BP19). On 28 January 1937 Judith Merivale sold the drawing to Agnew’s (no.2289) for £30 with FT038, FT039, FT042, FT062, FT379, and FT438. On 24 June 1940 it was bought there for £10 by Professor John Malins (1915–1992; no.10176).
- Associated People & Organisations
- Private Collection
- Professor John Malins (1915 - 1992), 24 June 1940, GBP 10, no.10176
- Thomas Agnew & Sons, London, 28 January 1937, GBP 30 , no.2289
With FT038, FT039, FT042, FT062, FT379 and FT438. - Judith Ann Merivale (1860 - 1945), Oxford, May 1915, BP19
- Maria Sophia Merivale (1853 - 1928), Oxford, May 1915, BP19
- John Herman Merivale (1779 - 1844), 1825
- James White (1744 - 1825), Exeter, 1816
- Exhibition History
- [?] 67th Annual Exhibition of Water-Colour and Pencil Drawings, Thomas Agnew & Sons, 1940, no. 133 as 'Frascati (1781)'
- Bibliography
- Adrian Bury, Francis Towne - Lone Star of Water-Colour Painting, Charles Skilton: London, 1962, p. 150
- Timothy Wilcox, Francis Towne, Tate Publishing: London, 1997, p. 86
Other entries in Italy Series, April to June 1781
Francis Towne
Thirteen Miles on the Road from Rome to Tivoli
Thirteen Miles on the Road from Rome to Tivoli
Francis Towne
A View of Rocca di Papa with Part of the Convent
A View of Rocca di Papa with Part of the Convent
Francis Towne
A View of the Spot where Hannibal is said to have looked at Rome
A View of the Spot where Hannibal is said to have looked at Rome
Francis Towne
A View of the Spot from which Hannibal is said to have looked at Rome
A View of the Spot from which Hannibal is said to have looked at Rome
Francis Towne
Monte Porzio Catone from the Park of the Villa Mondragone at Frascati
Monte Porzio Catone from the Park of the Villa Mondragone at Frascati
Francis Towne
Blasted Pine Tree in the Villa Mondragone, Frascati
Blasted Pine Tree in the Villa Mondragone, Frascati
Footnotes
- 1 Paul Oppé records: notes, ca. 1915.
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Comment
This is a drawing of or near Villa Grazioli, between 1683 to 1843 the Frascati property of the Odescalchi family, the Dukes of Bracciano. Now a hotel, it is noted for its views of Rome, distantly visible in Towne’s drawing through the right-hand trees.
Oppé’s note reads: “No57 F.T.1781 Duke de Braciana Frescati [BP]19. fine paper as [BP]13 [i.e. FT266] Pure crumble slight wash. Might be Devon or [. . .] Light wash. flat comp. Purposeless[?] trees.”1 The drawing shows the mark of Towne’s thumb in the wash.