Tivoli, Showing Rome in the Distance c. 1781

Francis Towne made this watercolor, "Tivoli, Showing Rome in the Distance," using paper, watercolor, and pen and ink. The washes of diluted pigment create a luminous atmosphere. You can almost feel the warmth of the Italian sun. Yet, the precise pen lines give definition to the forms, especially the foliage. This combination of looseness and precision speaks to the artist's training, part of a long tradition of European landscape painting, and also to his personal touch. Towne was part of a wave of British artists who traveled to Italy, seeking inspiration in the classical landscapes. Artists needed to be supported, and they relied on patrons to acquire landscapes like this one. It's worth reflecting on the economic dimensions of such a scene. Even this apparently tranquil vista depended on the artist’s labor, and the complex social relations that allowed him to dedicate time to his craft. The paper, pigments, and brushes were all products of industry too, tied to larger systems of trade and manufacture. Ultimately, appreciating the layers of materiality, production, and context allows us to see this work as more than just a pretty picture.