The Correspondence of Francis Towne (1739-1816): James White to Towne, 8 July 1786

Exeter July 8th 1786. -

My dear Sir,

The daily Expectation of seeing you for some time past is the only Reason for my not having written to you sooner - but as your Business may detain you longer than you expected I risk these few lines just to inform you that yesterday Mr Merivale & I fixed the plan of our Northern Expedition in which we Both most heartily wish to have you for a Companion, the Sketch of which follows -

We intend to set out from hence either the first or second week in August most likely the first - to go in the Common Carriages from hence through Bristol Birmingham & c to Manchester, and to stay there a couple of Days, where you may meet us if it shou'd be more convenient to you to go from London than to set out from hence, all together. Afterward to pursue our Adventures either in Diligences on Horseback or on Foot, just as we find agreeable - I shall take Richard with me, and we propose to be absent about ‘Five’ Weeks Do let me hear from you by the Return of the Post that we may be able to settle the Plan more thoroughly - If you should see Mr & Mrs Calamy before you leave Town do remember me to them both most kindly and say that I am very glad to hear so good an account of them as I lately did from Mr Barblett. Remember me also to Mr Downman & believe me to be your affectionate Friend

James White

To Mr Towne
No 79 St James’ Street
London

Francis Towne: "An Artist of great eminence as a landscape painter"

Francis Towne was baptised in Isleworth in 1739. He trained and worked as a London coach painter until the 1760s, when he moved to Exeter. There he remained, on and off, until his retirement. At the end of his life he returned to London, and he died in Devonshire Street, Marylebone, in 1816.

Towne enjoyed some critical success in the 1770s and made a sporadic living until the 1780s working on commission from Devon landowners and businessmen. He studied in Italy 1780-1, producing many notable works, and so although he worked mainly as a drawing master, it was as a landscape painter that he wished to be known. Yet Towne won little recognition from the Royal Academy and the metropolitan art world; although his friends remembered him as 'an artist of great eminence', it was not until the 20th century that Towne's work was generally appreciated.

Apart from the images he made, most of what we know about Towne comes from his correspondence, most of it hitherto unpublished. All the letters sent to Towne were left by him to John Herman Merivale, a poet and lawyer who had studied under Towne in Exeter, among a large bequest of paintings and drawings. Those written by Towne come from various sources.

Towne's life and work were the subject of Richard Stephens's PhD thesis, examined at Birkbeck College, London, in 2006.

James White to Towne, 8 July 1786

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Francis Towne: "An Artist of great eminence as a landscape painter"