Design for Rock-work at Virginia Water, Windsor Great Park 1780 - 1790

Thomas Sandby’s “Design for Rock-work at Virginia Water, Windsor Great Park” is a detailed pencil and watercolor drawing of a rocky cliff face. Created between 1780 and 1790, this work exemplifies Sandby’s masterful use of light and shadow to create depth and realism. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the textured depiction of the rocks and the subtle variations in color, which suggest a natural landscape. The composition focuses on the dramatic verticality of the cliff, with the use of perspective drawing creating a sense of scale and grandeur. This work, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, showcases Sandby's talent as a landscape artist and his significant contribution to the development of British landscape drawing.