Paul Sandby, R.A. (1730-1809)

'Windsor Castle was for Paul Sandby what Venice was to Canaletto' (J. Roberts, Views of Windsor, London, 1995, p. 22). Between 1763 and 1768, Sandby exhibited eight views of Windsor at the Society of Artists and their positive reception inspired him to repeat these and paint additional Windsor compositions. The present watercolour illustrates the ways in which Sandby combined watercolour with an increasing use of bodycolour, a technique that he adopted towards the end of his career. The inclusion of the team of oxen can be compared with those in View in Windsor Forest, with Oxen drawing Timber, signed and dated 1793, in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.