Paul Sandby (1731-1809)
Reviewing the annual Royal Academy exhibition of 1792, the reviewer was particularly struck by a work (untraced), by Paul Sandby, called “Landscape” He said that Sandby was “one of the first English artists that thought for himself. Instead of looking to Dutch painters for ideas of beautiful scenery he considered the prospects that are presented in our provinces”. Paul Sandby is acknowledged as the “father of modern landscape painting in water-colours”. He and his brother Thomas were founder members of the Royal Academy.
Paul Sandby was born in Nottingham in 1731, and during his long career as an artist his landscapes reflect the numerous places where he lived and visited, from Edinburgh and the Scottish highlands through many parts of England, Wales, London and its environs, including Englefield Green. His brother Thomas was part of the retinue of the Duke of Cumberland and in 1747 he found work for Paul as the Chief Draughtsman of the Military Survey of Scotland after the failure of the Jacobite Rebellion When Thomas moved South to continue working under the Duke of Cumberland (who had been appointed Ranger of Windsor Great Park) Paul shared his lodgings in Windsor. In 1765 Thomas became Deputy Ranger and moved to Lower Lodge (which stood on the site of the present Royal Lodge). Even though from around 1752 Paul had a permanent residence in London, he often stayed with his brother and his family in LowerLodge, and after his brother died in 1798, with his son Thomas Paul Sandby in a house in Englefield Green. During this time he painted many landscapes and houses in this area. These included “Englefield Green, near Egham”, c.1800 and “Tea at Englefield Green”, c.1800. Other local pictures included “The Wood Yard, Windsor Great Park” and “The Bishopsgate entrance to Windsor Great Park.” As well as landscapes which included scenes from everyday life, animals, particularly horses, and the most amazing massive, gnarled trees (as in 2 views of Luton Park painted in 1765), Paul Sandby is also known for his satirical caricatures aimed at famous people (e.g. William Hogarth), his detailed architectural studies of buildings and his studies of street life depicting people from all ranks and occupations. He died in 1809.
A view of Sir John Elvil’s house at Englefield Green, (part of “A Collection of Landsapes” 1777) was accompanied by the following description of Englefield Green and the area around. “This enchanting spot is celebrated for the salubrity of its air, and that in its environs there are a greater number of elegant seats, and delightful prospects, than in any part of England within the same extent. Its vicinity to the Thames and Windsor Great Park renders it still more eligible. In a word, the country for several miles round is more agreeable than can be imagined”.
On display are:-
North East View of Sir John Elvil’s House on Englefield Green…1773
The New Lodge, built by the late Duke of Cumberland, on Shrubs Hill, Windsor Forest, 1777
South East View of Windsor Castle, 1776
Colonel Onslow’s Lodge at Try-Hill, near Chertsey, 1777
Ember Court in Surry, the Seat of the Right Hon. Lord Cranley
Englefield Green, near Egham, c. 1800*
Tea at Englefield Green (c. 1800)
* This is a view of the house of Sir John Elvil at Englefield Green, to the east of Windsor Great Park.
Joan Wintour
To celebrate the bicentenary of his death exhibitions of Paul Sandby’s most important paintings have recently been on tour from Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery, to The National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh and the Royal Academy of Arts, London. These exhibitions included the paintings Englefield Green, near Egham (c.1800), and Tea at Englefield Green (c.1800).
​