Artwork
Manerbawr Castle from the Inward Court
Manerbawr Castle from the Inward Court is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Paul Sandby. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Paul Sandby’s 1775 print, *Manerbawr Castle from the Inward Court*, presents an interior perspective of a decaying castle courtyard. Rendered on laid paper, the composition balances the solidity of ruined stone walls and towers with the activity of figures and a dog moving among tools and a cart, creating a scene where architecture and daily labor intersect.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a moment of ordinary work within a historic ruin, suggesting the passage of time and the coexistence of past grandeur and present utility. By placing laborers and a wandering dog amid crumbling masonry, Sandby hints at the continuity of human presence even as the built environment deteriorates.
Technique & Style
Sandby employed a combination of etching and aquatint, allowing fine linear detail to coexist with broad tonal washes. The aquatint provides soft gradations of light and shadow across the stone surfaces, while the etched lines define architectural edges and figures. The laid paper’s texture contributes to the overall sense of depth and materiality.
History & Provenance
Created by Sandby, a founding member of the Royal Academy and a prominent mapmaker‑painter, the print reflects his interest in British landscape and architectural subjects. Produced in the mid‑1770s, it forms part of his broader output that helped shape early British printmaking, though specific ownership records for this particular impression remain limited.
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.
Ruined Abbey with Cattle and a Man Chopping Wood
Part of the Remains of Llanphor near Pembroke
Square in Front of an Inn
Sailors at the Waterside
Ruined Circular Temple
Ruins with a Seated Man, and a Covered Wagon in the Distance
Villagers at a City Gate Greeting a Dignitary
Tower at Pembroke Castle
The Bridge and Goats
Veuë du Colisée du Temple du Soleil, et de l'Arc de Titus a Rome