Paul Sandby (1731-1809)
The Great Bridge over Virginia Water c. 1754
Pen and ink and wash | 20.1 x 49.3 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 917851
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A pen and ink and wash preparatory drawing of a wooden bridge over Virginia Water. Trees and fields on the right, with workmen, carts and horses loosely indicated on the bank. Unfinished.
A preparatory study for a watercolour of the bridge built under the Duke of Cumberland's instruction over Virginia Water (RCIN 914647). The drawing was engraved as part of a set of Eight Views of Windsor Great Park by the Sandby brothers in 1754 (for example, RCIN 814831). The set was dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland, for whom Thomas Sandby worked from 1746, becoming Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park in 1765. The wooden bridge built by Henry Flitcroft (1697-1769, Comptroller of Works from 1758) was intended to carry the main carriage route that ran through the Park from north to south, without preventing the Duke of Cumberland’s pleasure boats from sailing beneath it. In the finished watercolour and print the Duke is shown on horseback at far right. The wooden bridge was damaged by a storm, possibly on 1 September 1768, and had been removed by 1783. The five arch stone bridge that replaced it was designed by Thomas Sandby and erected by 1791. The bridge still survives on the northern arm of Virginia Water between Virginia Water and China Creek.
Another related watercolour is in the British Museum (1904,0819.428). Several figure studies relating to the workmen in the foreground are in the British Museum (L.B. 138), and in the Royal Collection relating to the figure of the Duke and his groom (RCIN 917549). Another version of the finished drawing, in which George II is depicted inspecting the building of the bridge, appeared at Sotheby's, 8 July 2015, lot 223.
Provenance
William Sandby; Christie's 24 March 1959, lot 16; bought by Queen Elizabeth II for the Royal Collection
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Creator(s)
Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Pen and ink and wash
Measurements
20.1 x 49.3 cm (sheet of paper)
Other number(s)
RL 17851