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1 of 253523 objects
Thomas Sandby (1721-98)
The Choir, St George's Chapel, Windsor c. 1782
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour | 56.0 x 53.4 cm (sheet of paper) | RCIN 917455
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A pen and ink and watercolour drawing of the choir of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Inscribed on the verso twice in pencil: St Georges Chapel Windsor. Areas left unfinished.
Thomas Sandby was employed by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland as Draughtsman from 1746, and was Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park from 1764, first and briefly under William Augustus and then under his successor, Henry Frederick. Sandby's work for Henry Frederick included improvements to Virginia Water in the 1780s, for which a large number of dawings are in the Royal Collection. As well as being appointed Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy after its foundation in 1768, Sandby also held the positions of Architect of the King's Works from 1777 and Master Carpenter in the Office of Works from November 1780 until the abolition of the post in 1782.
The present drawing was made while Sandby held these latter two positions, and relates to a programme of refurbishment works under Henry Emelyn in St George's Chapel from the 1770s. The west window was repaired in 1776, and in 1785-88 the east window and altar wall incorporated new stained glass and an altarpiece by Benjamin West. The choir stalls were also updated in 1786-91 and Edward IV's monument installed between 1789-91. This drawing apparently shows Sandby's first thoughts for the new eastern wall, with the choir stalls before their alterations. The tracery of the east window is barely indicated, but figures are included near the pulpit. Three pencil drawings of the choir stalls are 917543, 917638 and 917943, and another of the south-west window is 917542; all drawings were probably among the 'Gothic Designs' for St George's Chapel in six lots in his 1799 estate sale.
Provenance
Thomas Sandby estate sale, July 1799; purchased from Palser, 1909
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Creator(s)
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Medium and techniques
Pencil, pen and ink and watercolour
Measurements
56.0 x 53.4 cm (sheet of paper)
Category
Object type(s)
