It depicts a panoramic view of the city of London around 1810 from a vantage point in the middle of the Thames and divided into 4 panels.

Although it is essentially accurate, it has been noted by one specialist that it is 'an illusionistic scene designed to thrill and excite'. This may explain why it shows a building on fire (illustrated here on the left) and so many barges and sailing ships on the river.

Provenance

Thought to have originally belonged to Robert Havell junior; rediscovered circa 1958 by Mrs Janet Johnston; Alfred Macdonald (her brother); Sandy Macdonald


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