Paul Sandby RA (1731-1809) The River Severn at Shrewsbury, Shropshire

bodycolour on panel, 50 x 61cm, unframed, Sotheby's, London, 14 November 1991. This picture is a rare example of Paul Sandby - one of the foremost and influential landscape painters in 18th century Britain - undertaking a gouache directly on to a prepared mahogany panel. This support was presumably chosen for its relative stability compared to the more commonly encountered oak panels, and its physical properties which allowed for experimentation on the almost-glassy smooth surface provided by the material. Sandby's travels to Wales, undertaken from the 1760s onwards, provided constant material for his brush in the subsequent decades. In terms of composition, this picturesque scene depicting the River Severn with Shrewsbury in the distance - rendered with a fair amount of artistic licence - was one of obvious interest to the artist. It relates directly to a smaller watercolour by Sandby dated 1770 and preserved in the Birmingham Museums Trust (1905P11). The trees on the right must have been particularly satisfying to the artist, as they reappear in a view of 'Dromana, the seat of Lord Grandison, on the River Blackwater, Ireland', which was engraved and published in 1781. Condition Report, Condition Report, This lot does not have a condition report, if you would like further information, please click the 'Request A Condition Report’ button below. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

Estimate:$9,264.10

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