The Thames at Westminster Bridge with Barges

1746 · Private collection

landscape

This view of London shows Westminster from the Lambeth shore. From left to right can be seen Westminster Abbey, with one of the towers designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor under scaffolding, Westminster Hall, and the Tower of St Margaret's Church which is flying the Royal Standard. Further to the right the Banqueting Hall is clearly visible, as well as the newly completed Westminster Bridge, and in the foreground the barge of the Ironmongers Company rows downstream accompanied by a number of smaller rowing boats.

The Thames at Westminster Bridge with Barges

About the Artist

Samuel Scott

1702 – 1772

English marine and topographical painter and etcher. He began as a marine painter in the tradition of the van de Veldes, but he turned to topographical views in the manner of Canaletto, who was then enjoying great success in England. He was not simply a mechanical imitator, however, and had a feeling for the English atmosphere that is lacking in Canaletto, who brought the Venetian light with him to England. Scott also could achieve a distinctive grandeur of design, as in an Arch of Westminster Bridge (Tate Gallery, London), which is often considered his masterpiece. He left London in 1765 and settled in Bath for reason of health, evidently painting little in his later years.

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