This unfinished drawing of the Royal Foundry at Woolwich is attributed to Paul Sandby, who was a drawing master at its neighbour, the Royal Military Academy from 1768-1799. Drawing was introduced and became an important part of the training of the pupils at the Academy from the 1740s.
Paul Sandby was one of the leading watercolourists of the 18th century and is considered today as a pivotal figure within the development of the genre. This unfinished piece gives a good insight into his working methods. The delicate, pencil sketch is gradually in-filled with colour and detail with the darker, shaded areas being applied first before colour and definition are added over the top. The British Library holds a large number of drawings and archival material relating to Paul and his brother Thomas Sandby, including recently attributed views.
Brett Culbert discusses Thomas Pownall’s observations of the changing landscapes of the New World from his visit from 1753–60.
Documenting national defence was a key purpose of topographical drawings. Ann Payne explores examples of military art in the British Library’s collections.
Whether drawing for official purposes or for pleasure, soldier-artists contributed a rich source to the visual imagery of colonial India in the 18th and 19th centuries.
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