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

Thomas Sandby British

Not on view

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.

Design for rock-work at Virginia Water, Windsor Great Park, Thomas Sandby (British, baptized Nottingham 1723–1798 Windsor), Pen and gray ink, brush and gray wash, over graphite

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