Town hall and market place, Padua, early morning

Before picture postcards were invented William Callow’s watercolours satisfied the growing demand for travel imagery showing scenic views and picturesque corners of European cities. A regular visitor to France, Germany, Switzerland and Holland from his native England, Callow usually drew in pencil on the spot, working up his watercolours later. He was said to have a phenomenal memory for colour and detail, and continued to make use of his travel sketches for many years. This watercolour was made shortly after his visit to Italy in 1879 and was exhibited at the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1881.