The British landscape painter Francis Towne was able to achieve a certain fame during his lifetime. After his death, however, he was quickly forgotten and was only rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century. At the age of 12, Towne began his training with the renowned London carriage painter Thomas Brookshead. Later he won first place in a design competition of the Society of Arts. This award enabled him to attend Saint Martin's Lane Academy. Later he was also a student of the court portraitist John Shackleton. At the age of 23, Townes education was completed and he found a job with a carriage painter in London. He sent Towne to Exeter on business. Towne apparently liked it there, for he soon settled in the village. At that time he mainly painted in oil and gave drawing lessons. Among his students were the painter and doctor John White Abbott. Towne soon received his first commissions from wealthy families in the region.
Together with his friend James White, at the age of 37, Towne undertook a journey through North Wales, where he painted numerous landscapes. It was around this time that he switched from oil colours to watercolour. Two years later Towne decided to travel to Italy. His journey took him first to Rome. There he met John Warwick Smith and met his old friend from London again, the landscape painter William Pars. The artists spent much time together while painting together. Towne moved on to Naples and visited a few more places around Rome before he and Smith returned to England. From his trip from Italy, Towne brought back 200 paintings and 54 large views of Rome. Unlike other artists, however, he focused more on depicting the ancient ruins rather than on the more modern architecture or the current cityscape. He exhibited the 54 paintings of Rome, but never sold them. If a client wanted one of the paintings, Towne made a copy.
After his return from Italy, Towne undertook several more trips to North Wales and the Lake District. Towne made 11 attempts to gain admission to the Royal Academy over a period of 15 years. He even transferred his watercolours from Rome into oil. Some of his works were actually exhibited at the Royal Academy, but he was never accepted. Finally he gave up trying and devoted himself to painting and teaching at Exeter. Towne married Jeanette Hilligsberg, a 27-year-old dance teacher from France, at the age of 67. However, she died only eight months after the marriage. Towne himself did not die until eight years later. Although the Royal Academy denied him membership, Towne bequeathed to her his 54 beloved paintings from Rome before his death.
The British landscape painter Francis Towne was able to achieve a certain fame during his lifetime. After his death, however, he was quickly forgotten and was only rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century. At the age of 12, Towne began his training with the renowned London carriage painter Thomas Brookshead. Later he won first place in a design competition of the Society of Arts. This award enabled him to attend Saint Martin's Lane Academy. Later he was also a student of the court portraitist John Shackleton. At the age of 23, Townes education was completed and he found a job with a carriage painter in London. He sent Towne to Exeter on business. Towne apparently liked it there, for he soon settled in the village. At that time he mainly painted in oil and gave drawing lessons. Among his students were the painter and doctor John White Abbott. Towne soon received his first commissions from wealthy families in the region.
Together with his friend James White, at the age of 37, Towne undertook a journey through North Wales, where he painted numerous landscapes. It was around this time that he switched from oil colours to watercolour. Two years later Towne decided to travel to Italy. His journey took him first to Rome. There he met John Warwick Smith and met his old friend from London again, the landscape painter William Pars. The artists spent much time together while painting together. Towne moved on to Naples and visited a few more places around Rome before he and Smith returned to England. From his trip from Italy, Towne brought back 200 paintings and 54 large views of Rome. Unlike other artists, however, he focused more on depicting the ancient ruins rather than on the more modern architecture or the current cityscape. He exhibited the 54 paintings of Rome, but never sold them. If a client wanted one of the paintings, Towne made a copy.
After his return from Italy, Towne undertook several more trips to North Wales and the Lake District. Towne made 11 attempts to gain admission to the Royal Academy over a period of 15 years. He even transferred his watercolours from Rome into oil. Some of his works were actually exhibited at the Royal Academy, but he was never accepted. Finally he gave up trying and devoted himself to painting and teaching at Exeter. Towne married Jeanette Hilligsberg, a 27-year-old dance teacher from France, at the age of 67. However, she died only eight months after the marriage. Towne himself did not die until eight years later. Although the Royal Academy denied him membership, Towne bequeathed to her his 54 beloved paintings from Rome before his death.
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