An estuary scene, probably Lyon, France

The present watercolour probably dates from Callow's first walking tour in France in 1836. Callow had settled in France in 1829, and was to remain until 1841. Apart from a brief stay in England in 1830, to avoid the dangers of Revolution, he had spent the ensuing years building his career as a watercolourist of note and Drawing Master, to among others, the Royal family and Princess Clémentine d'Orléans in particular. However, by 1836 he must have felt sufficiently confident to take some time away from Paris and undertake a two and a half month long walking tour of France, arriving in Lyon on the 8 August. He wrote in his diary, 'Here I remained for some days waiting for remittances, which arrived on the 13th. I at once booked a seat in the banquette of the diligence for Paris and started at ten o'clock the same evening'. (J. Reynolds, William Callow, 1980, p. 63). He spent the five days in Lyon exploring and sketching the area. The watercolours executed at this date show the influence of Bonington with their combination of precise detail, loose and fluid washes.