A Poultry Seller c. 1759

"A Poultry Seller" is a watercolor by Paul Sandby, created around 1759. This detailed drawing depicts a man carrying two baskets of poultry on a pole across his shoulders. Sandby's use of precise line and subtle shading give the figure a sense of realism and dimensionality. The piece is a snapshot of everyday life in 18th-century Britain, capturing the trade of a common poultry seller. Its small size, 19.5 x 15.3 cm, suggests it may be a study or preliminary work. Sandby, renowned for his watercolors of landscapes and architecture, also created numerous social scenes such as this, which offer a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people.