Thomas Sandby (1721-1798) A view of St Paul's Cathedral from an idealised bridge c. 1780, pencil, pen and ink, watercolour

These works, and its companion pieces, were intended to illustrate the magnificence and sublime effects of architecture. The idealised bridge comprised of nine arches supporting a colonnade and three classical pavilions.

This work, and others which show the idealised bridge, were not intended to be executed. Rather they were made to illustrate how the natural magnificence of the Thames River could be enhanced by the symmetry, composition and the grandeur of such a precisely considered form.