A View of Vevey with La Tour de Peilz in the Distance 1781

Francis Towne made this drawing of Vevey with La Tour de Peilz in the distance using pen and gray ink on laid paper. The effect is remarkably spare: we see the buildings and landscape rendered with an economy of line. But this is not simply a quick sketch. The artist has used the inherent qualities of his materials to evoke the scene before him. The smoothness of the paper allows the ink to flow freely, creating a sense of light and air. Note how the artist has used hatching to create shadows and volume, and how the careful placement of lines suggests depth and distance. This drawing represents a long tradition of landscape art, but it also reflects the changing social and economic conditions of the late 18th century. As the middle class grew and travel became more accessible, there was an increasing demand for picturesque views of Europe. Artists like Towne catered to this market, producing works that captured the beauty of the natural world but were also objects of commerce. By attending to the materials and processes of this work, we can understand not only its aesthetic qualities but also its place in a broader cultural landscape.