This cityscape depicts a view of Westminster Bridge built in 1739-1750 with private funding under the direction of Swiss engineer Thomas Page. The painting features one of the stone arches that characterize the structure the bridge and frames a view of the city of Westminster in the distance. Abundant activity on the Thames includes several boats and barges loaded with goods. Figures on the bridge include a man on a ladder working on a lantern at the top of a pier
Alternative Title:
Westminister Bridge
Description:
Title from 2005 Christie's appraisal., A second, autograph copy of this composition is at the Yale Center for British Art. See https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:365, and Temporary local subject terms: arches | architectural subject | baskets | bathers | boats | bridge (built work) | buildings | city | cityscape | costume | drinking | food | genre subject | leisure | men | nude | pipe | platform | river | smoking (activity) | swimmers | swimming | tankard | women.
This topographical view of Twickenham on the Thames River features four summer houses of note. At left closet to the foreground is the villa formerly owned by Alexander Pope which was acquired on his death in 1744 by Sir William Stanhope. Stanhope altered the house considerably by this date including the addition of wings seen in this view. The domed structure in the center is Lady Ferrer’s house. To the right and receding into the distance along the river, are the houses of Barnaby Backwell and Poulett Lodge beyond. A game of stool-ball takes place on the lawn of Pope’s Villa and an angler is fishing from the shore. A boat pulls into the boathouse. A barge floats on the river in the foreground. Some swans swim closer to the shore. The artist Samuel Scott lived in Twickenham nearby when he painted this view. It was likely acquired by Walpole directly from the painter and hung above the door in the Green Closet at Strawberry Hill
Description:
Title from 2005 Christie's appraisal. and Date base another version of this painting at the Yale Center for British Art: Samuel Scott, 1701/2-1772, British. Pope's Villa, Twickenham, ca. 1759 (https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:1041).