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Cadyanda

George Scharf

1843

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Cadyanda is a 1843 by George Scharf, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: George Scharf
When & what style?: 1843 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows a rough, light pencil drawing of a tomb or sarcophagus with figures carved into its sides. Below it, a cluster of tall, wispy plants or grass grows unevenly, as if blowing in the wind. The lines are loose and quick, with no clear details—just shapes and movement. The artist didn’t finish the drawing, leaving parts blank or barely sketched. It feels more like a quick study than a polished work. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.

The story of this work

Overview

The drawing *Cadyanda* by George Scharf, dated 1843, is part of a series likely originating from a sketchbook. It aligns with Scharf’s documented studies of Lycian ruins, executed in pencil with white heightening or pen and ink, including similar sketches of Xanthus and Pinara from the same period. The work reflects Scharf’s archaeological documentation of the region’s ancient sites. Comparable examples are held in the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery archives.

Read the full account in the museum source.