Road Builders Shifting Boulders
About this artwork
Sandby was one of the first artists to record scenes of industrial activity. This drawing shows men moving a large boulder to allow for the building of a new road. After the first Jacobite uprising of 1715 new roads were built in the Highlands to enable rapid movement of troops. A programme of road building was instigated initially under George Wade. He supervised the construction of 240 miles of roads across the Highlands, an ambitious programme of road and bridge building not undertaken since the days of the Roman Empire in Britain. These “military” roads opened up Scotland and were a great economic benefit to the country allowing goods to be easily transported as part of Scotland’s Industrial Revolution.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Paul Sandby (1731 - 1809) English
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title:Road Builders Shifting Boulders
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date created:Unknown
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materials:Pen and watercolour on two sheets of grey-blue paper
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measurements:28.50 x 32.20 cm
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object type:
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credit line:William Finlay Watson Bequest 1881
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accession number:D 2343
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gallery:
Paul Sandby
Paul Sandby
Sandby is best known for his topographical and picturesque landscapes in watercolour. He probably learned drawing from his brother Thomas, and like him became a military draughtsman for the Board of Ordnance at the Tower of London. In 1747 Sandby was appointed chief draughtsman to the Military...