October 4, 2009
It was from this early age that his natural talent began to develop. His work did not go unnoticed, as at the end of his apprenticeship he won first prize of 15 guineas from the Society of Arts for an original design for coach painting. It was during this period that Towne’s commitment and interest in landscape art really came to fruition. Having pursued his training at St Martin’s Lane Academy in London, Towne left for Exeter in the late 1750s. It was here that he decided to adopt the profession of a drawing master, and was fortunate to find himself benefiting from an increase in demand from wealthy amateurs.
Although as a watercolourist Towne is today seen as innovative and exemplifying a masterly tone in landscape watercolours, he actually spent the early part of his career painting landscapes in oils. Towne exhibited over fifty oil paintings in his lifetime, but his oil works were noted as appearing to be ‘stiff and conventional and altogether lacking in his originality’. It was not until the 1770s that Towne really began exploring painting landscapes in watercolour. The development of his watercolour technique really asserted itself during his travels to Wales in 1777 and during his trip to Italy during 1780 and 1781. It was Towne’s ‘self-awareness’ in his approach to landscape drawing using watercolours that was in itself most exceptional; his work would begin life as sketches drawn directly from nature, which he would later explore in watercolour. He was able to master this ‘on the spot’ technique that was itself dwarfed in a long cycle of distinct activities, which included drawing, painting, writing and so forth. Towne’s working method was unique for an artist of his generation, as his work contained detailed inscriptions that recorded every meticulous aspect of his working method.
In 1805 Towne realized that the climate for appreciation of watercolours was changing and it was then that he felt prepared to reveal to the world a large collection of his own watercolours. For a man who had, for most of his life, kept his work almost entirely to himself, this was a major step. Towne went on to hold what is said to be the first one-man exhibition in watercolours in the history of British Art. The exhibition, held in London, included over 190 watercolours painted outdoors in Italy, Switzerland, Wales and the Lake District.
Towne was married in 1807 to a French dancer – Jeanette Hilligsberg. Tragically the marriage only lasted a few months as Jeanette died in the early part of 1808. Although by that time Towne had settled in London, he made frequent visits to the West Country. Towne died on 7th July 1816 and his body was hearse-drawn from London to Exeter, where he was buried alongside his wife. Upon his death Towne bequeathed three albums of his Italian watercolours to the British Museum.
Some critics argue that although Towne created a powerful and idiosyncratic style, as a Devon-based painter, he had little influence on the London artistic mainstream and remained largely forgotten, until rediscovered by A. P. Oppé in the 1930s. It was during that period that his work was hailed as revolutionary for its time.
30 September, 2009
coming soon…
30 September, 2009
coming soon…
If you only know a little about me it should come as no surprise that I think in pictures and having spent my time so far as a conceiver and visualiser of ideas, then painting, photography and generally making marks on surfaces is my natural medium.
As a synaesthete, I find that landscapes, interior spaces and natural forms can change into abstract, ambiguous and tantalizing shapes, similar to the process I use for solving problems for clients.
It is also refreshing to explore all the digital tools now available to creatives and it is no coincidence that these voyages of exploration often result in helping to take clients in new directions and to try new techniques.
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October 4, 2009
Towne created a powerful and idiosyncratic style, as a Devon-based painter, he had little influence on the London artistic mainstream.
October 4, 2009
Charles Town was born in Wigan the third of the five children of Robert and Mary Town. The family were poor, but probably had artistic leanings, for Charles was selling drawings to bring in money by the age of eight, and at twelve he walked to Leeds to work for the landscape artist John Rathbone.
October 4, 2009
Joseph Towne made anatomical models made of wax, many of which still survive today and are on display in the Guy's Hospital medical school museum.
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