Artwork
Ruined Two-Story Building with Mountains in Distance
Ruined Two-Story Building with Mountains in Distance is an ink print by the Baroque artist Paul Sandby. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ruined Two-Story Building with Mountains in Distance is an etching on laid paper created by Paul Sandby around 1750. It is a representative work of the artist, known for his landscape art and topographical subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a ruined two-story building surrounded by trees and figures, set against a distant mountainous landscape. A small temple or pavilion is visible to the right, within a circular border. The scene conveys a sense of a picturesque, weathered environment.
Technique & Style
The etching is characterized by fine lines that create detailed textures, giving the scene a somewhat ghostly quality. This style was typical of etchings from the period, and Sandby's use of it adds to the dreamy, hazy atmosphere of the image.
History & Provenance
Paul Sandby was an English landscape artist and mapmaker who later became a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768, alongside his brother Thomas Sandby.
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.
