Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour | 31.4 x 43.9 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 914696
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A pencil, pen and ink, watercolour and bodycolour drawing of the Thames from the gardens of Old Somerset House, with a view through trees towards Westminster Bridge under construction and Westminster Abbey on the horizon. A man in tricorne hat leaning over the parapet, and a woman and child in the foreground. On a wash-line bordered mount of a type found in works acquired at the Paul Sandby estate sale, 2-4 May 1811 (see Jane Roberts, Views of Windsor, exh cat 1995, p. 142). Inscribed in pencil on the mount 'T. Sandby' and 'View from the Old Somerset Gardens. 1752'. A faint number left corner. Stamped with Paul Sandby's collector's mark left corner (Lugt 2112).
It is likely that this drawing and a similar view (RCIN 914697) are those in the Paul Sandby estate sale, third day, lot 25, described in the catalogues as 'T. Sandby. Two extremely accurate Views of Westminster, and the Thames, from Old Somerset Gardens', although they were bought by Shepperd for the Prince of Wales and returned; the drawings were possibly bought back individually as 'A View from Old Somerset Gardens by Sandby' and 'View of Westminster from Somerset Gardens by Sandby' on 6 February 1812 and 7 February 1812. While the drawings seem likely to be by Thomas, A. P. Oppé noted the later date of the dress of the figures and suggested they were later additions by Paul Sandby. His PS collector's mark was possibly applied to all the material that was assembled in his estate sale.
Paul Sandby joined his brother in London by 1752 after a period with the Board of Ordnance in Scotland. Both brothers made drawings of the Thames from the banks of Somerset House, views that were made popular by Nathaniel and Samuel Buck, John Maurer, but especially Canaletto, who was in England between 1745-55.Provenance
Paul Sandby estate sale, 2-4 May 1811, third day, lot 25 (bought Shepperd £13 2s. 6d.); bought by George IV from Colnaghi when Prince Regent, 6 or 7 February 1812 (Royal Archives invoice 27673 and 4)
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Creator(s)
Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour
Measurements
31.4 x 43.9 cm (sheet of paper)
Object type(s)
Other number(s)
RL 14696