Sandby, Paul Lot n° 1

SANDBY, Paul (follower of) Kirkstall Abbey, near Leeds. C. 1750 Watercolour, 23.5 x 32.7 cm, laid paper, unsigned (laid down on paper support). Under passe-partout. A beautiful rendering of the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, a very popular touristic site during the 18th c. and the early Romantic era. Attributed on verso to the great British watercolour draftsman Paul Sandby (1731-1809). As one of the leading British artists of his time, he became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768. Sandby made extensive journeys around Britain and Ireland, sketching scenery and ancient monuments. He was described in his obituaries as "the father of modern landscape painting in watercolors". Though the rendering of the present drawing lacks the soft and artistic refinement one often finds in Sandby's watercolours, its general mood and subject matter is clearly inspired by the artist.