Artwork
A Castle on the Dart
A Castle on the Dart is a watercolor drawing by the Romanticist artist Paul Sandby. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
A Castle on the Dart is a drawing created by Paul Sandby in 1774, using watercolor over graphite on wove paper. It is a serene riverside scene featuring a castle.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a castle by a body of water, with a large tree on a rocky cliff above it. Figures and animals are scattered throughout the scene, conveying a sense of tranquility. The composition reflects Sandby's skill in balancing topographical detail with artistic license.
Technique & Style
Sandby employed soft colors and delicate brushstrokes to achieve a calm atmosphere. The twisted branches of the tree are rendered with expressive lines, suggesting a sense of movement. The use of watercolor allows for subtle gradations of tone and texture.
History & Provenance
The drawing is now held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington. It reflects Sandby's background as a mapmaker and his involvement in the founding of the Royal Academy in 1768.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Sandby, (1731 – 7 November 1809) was an English mapmaker and painter who specialised in landscape art. Along with his older brother Thomas Sandby, he was one of the founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768.
River Landscape with Castles and Fishermen
The Ruins of the Monastery of Oybin in the Zittau Mountains
Coastal Scene, North Wales
Netley Abbey, near Southampton
Bangor Cathedral : Penmaenmawr in the distance
Near Midnapore, Bengal
Landscape with river and mountains
The Isar with Boulders on the Isarhohe
Landscape with church and cattle
Landscape
Landscape with a Bending Tree
Castle on a River