Paul Sandby Prints
Paul Sandby 1731-1809 was a foundation member of the Royal Academy and during the latter half of the 18th century became known as the “father of modern landscape painting in watercolours”. However, while continuing to paint pictures in oils and aquatints, he also, from the age of 16, when he was employed as draughtsman to the Military Survey of North Britain working in Edinburgh, produced many drawings of street life, buildings and views. After the Act of Union with Scotland, following the failure of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, he also travelled round and drew many areas of the Scottish Highlands which had not previously been accessible.
After he resigned from the Military Survey and came South he stayed in Lower Lodge, Windsor Great Park with his brother, Thomas Sandby, who had been appointed Deputy Ranger. Together they published a series of engravings of the Park in 1754. In 1768 he was appointed Chief Drawing Master at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and moved to London. Although this became his permanent residence throughout his professional life, he continued to spend time with his brother in the Park until Thomas died in 1798 and also with his son Thomas Paul and family who lived in a house on Englefield Green.
From 1770 he travelled round Wales, producing many drawings of large estates and views which were published as XII Views in South Wales and XII Views in North Wales. Other books of drawings included The Virtuosi’s Museum, 1778-1781. Even after his death, prints made from his drawings of many parts of Britain continued to be sold.
On display is a selection of prints from the Oliver Collection (some engraved by M. A. Rooker, an eminent engraver of the late 18th century).
Joan Wintour
November 2011