British Classicist Francis Towne (1739-1816) After receiving an art education, among others from the court portraitist, he began to paint for wealthy Britons. His love for landscapes drove him to take a trip to Italy, where he visited Rome and Naples. After returning, he painted for example Bridge at Narni and other themes from Devon, North Wales and the Lake District. In autumn of 1780, he travelled again to Rome, where he moved from oil paintings to watercolor, which seemed better to him. He spent most of his life in London, where he married and, unfortunately, a year later became a widower. He bequeathed his collection of watercolours to the British Museum. His works received great attention in the 1930s.