Design for Rock-work at Virginia Water, Windsor Great Park

Thomas Sandby

1780s (?) · Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite · Drawings and Prints

Thomas Sandby, together with his better-known brother Paul Sandby, had an important influence on the early development of British watercolor practice. He was appointed as the Royal Academy's first professor of architecture and also worked at Windsor as a deputy ranger and architect of the king's works. In the latter capacity, he was responsible for the rock works around Virginia Water, a lake at the south end of the Windsor Great Park. After floods damaged the rock works in 1768 and 1782, Sandby designed a new cascade and grotto and supervised repairs. These lively wash and ink drawings relate to that restoration program, which was part of a broad effort to upgrade the castle and grounds after George III decided to make Windsor his primary country retreat about 1776.

Artist

Thomas Sandby

Date

1780s (?)

Medium

Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harry G. Sperling Fund, 2008