Artwork
Girl with a Bonnet at Work [recto]
![Girl with a Bonnet at Work [recto], by Paul Sandby, ink, 1770](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-sandby--girl-with-a-bonnet-at-work-recto--f04f7d51ffe6255e-w1024.webp)
Girl with a Bonnet at Work [recto] is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Paul Sandby. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Girl with a Bonnet at Work is a drawing created by Paul Sandby in 1770. It is executed in pen and black ink with gray wash over graphite on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a young woman engaged in handwork, likely sewing or embroidery, wearing a loose dress and a wide-brimmed bonnet. Her posture suggests a relaxed, informal pose, with her arms resting on her knees.
Technique & Style
The drawing is characterized by quick, loose lines and the use of gray wash to shade the subject's clothes and face, giving it a soft, unfinished appearance. The technique suggests a rapid study or sketch.
History & Provenance
Paul Sandby was a founding member of the Royal Academy, established in 1768 alongside his brother Thomas. Sandby was primarily known as a mapmaker and landscape artist.
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.
![Girl with a Bonnet Reclining [verso], by Paul Sandby](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-sandby--girl-with-a-bonnet-reclining-verso--0928b033ed2f6a70-w320.webp)