Warwick Castle from Lodge Hill. by Paul Sandby, 1725-1809

Paul Sandby, 1725-1809
Scroll down for information.
Click here to return to the list.

Warwick Castle from Lodge Hill.

Original aquatint with etching in sepia-brown ink. 1775. With the signature in the plate: 'P. Sandby Fecit'. As first issued by J. Boydell in 1776 as No 1 in the set of 'Four Views of Warwick Castle'. With Boydell's publication line: 'Publish'd Jany 1776 by J.Boydell Cheapside.'
Early impression with the first version of the sky.

Brilliant early impression in sepia-brown ink. On light pale cream laid 18th century paper; coat of arms watermark. Generally excellent condition; a small repaired paper loss in the margin beyond the plate mark upper right; one repaired edge nick not affecting the plate area. Trimmed close to platemark at the head and foot; 1/4 inch margins on left and right. Sheet: 13 1/2 x 19 1/4ins. (342x490mm).

This item is sold.
Click here to enquire about this item.

The four views of Warwick Castle were amongst the very earliest of Sandby's aquatint prints with which he achieved some public success. They were drawn whilst travelling to Wales to go a sketching trip in the company of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynne and dedicated to the Earl of Warwick, who was to be a patron for Sandby. Sandby enlisted the help of the established and renowned print-publisher Boydell in selling the prints, rather than issuing them himself, as he was first to do with the aquatints drawn on the Welsh trip in the same year.

The Warwick Views show the marvellous qualities of light that Sandby was able to achieve in aquatint from his very earliest use of the medium. Both the view above, and the study from the South East, are very early impressions - 'Warwick Castle from the S.E.', a particularly rare impression in the grey ink which gives very contrasty light effects.

See also the notes on Sandby in 'Landscape in Scotland with a Hay Cart and Buildings, near Edinburgh.'