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This image features an elevated view overlooking a townscape stretching into the distance. The horizon is positioned high in the composition, with a faint line separating the sky from the land. Various buildings are visible on the horizon, some with tower-like structures and pointed roofs. The drawing style is minimal and precise, with clean, fine linework outlining trees and buildings. The color palette is limited to shades of gray on light-colored paper. There are detailed, textured clusters of trees in the foreground and additional buildings nestled among trees and open spaces in the distance. The image conveys a sense of quiet and clarity through its sparse lines.
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This image features an elevated view overlooking a townscape stretching into the distance. The horizon is positioned high in the composition, with a faint line separating the sky from the land. Various buildings are visible on the horizon, some with tower-like structures and pointed roofs. The drawing style is minimal and precise, with clean, fine linework outlining trees and buildings. The color palette is limited to shades of gray on light-colored paper. There are detailed, textured clusters of trees in the foreground and additional buildings nestled among trees and open spaces in the distance. The image conveys a sense of quiet and clarity through its sparse lines.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

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

Francis Towne

Date
1781
Medium
pen and black ink over graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 25 x 32.5 cm (9 13/16 x 12 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1995.52.179
Credit line
Gift of William B. O'Neal
Time span
1776 to 1800
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • British
  • Landscape
  • Switzerland
  • landscape
  • La Tour de Peilz
  • Lac Léman
  • Vevey
Provenance

James White, Exeter (1816-1825); John Herman Merivale, Barton Place, Exeter (1825-1844); by descent, Merivale family, Barton Place, Exeter, (1844-c.1915); Sir William Arthington Worsley, 4th Baronet, Hovingham Hall, York (probably 1915-1981); (Thos. Agnew & Sons Ltd., London); purchased by William B. O'Neal, Charlottesville, VA, 1981-1994; gift to NGA, 1995.

Inscription

upper center verso in pen and brown ink: No. 7 / Vevey Sept. 20 1781 / Francis Towne; center verso in pen and brown ink: La tour de pil; lower left verso in pen and brown ink: All the tops of the Buildings darker than the Lake (repeated below by later hand in graphite); by later hand, center right verso in graphite: 87 BP; by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 8 4554 / 7482

NGA object ID 76165. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.