A ruined castle

Attributed to Paul Sandby RA (1730/31 - 1809)

RA Collection: Art

A drawing of the buttressed tower of a ruined castle by a lake, with hills in the distance and two figures gathering wood in the foreground. The tower has been copied from Sandby's 1775 aquatint of Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire. It is not a straightforward copy of the print, however, as the artist has selected only the tower nearest the foreground, omitting most of the large but ruined structure.

This drawing and the others in the group have traditionally been attributed to Paul Sandby. Given their provenance from John Yenn's collection (he knew Sandby), as well as their general style and subject-matter, some connection with Paul Sandby seems certain. However, the lack of detail and the fact that several of the drawings have been copied from prints by other artists make it more likely that they are the work of students directed by Sandby. Alternatively, Sandby may have sketched them himself as demonstrations or as outlines for his pupils to colour.