Paul Sandby RA: The Father of Modern Landscape Painting Paul Sandby (1731 – 7 November 1809) stands as a pivotal figure in the history of British landscape painting, recognized not merely for his artistic skill but for establishing a new aesthetic tradition that profoundly impacted subsequent generations. Born in Nottingham to Thomas Sandby, a textile worker, Paul’s early life was marked by self-education and an innate fascination with observation—qualities that would prove instrumental in shaping his extraordinary career as both a mapmaker and painter. Unlike many artists of his time who pu…