Watercolour - 12”x 8.5” JMW Turner’s Old London Bridge c.1794 [Private Collection]
JMW Turner, who was originally from London, did not paint many finished watercolours of the city or its buildings. However, he was intrigued by the different industries along the Thames and would often sail past Old London Bridge during his childhood.
In this particular painting, the way that Turner depicted the bridge from a low viewpoint suggests that he painted it from the shore. He added a light sketch of a carriage with a coachman and passengers crossing the bridge, but his main focus was on the intricate architectural details such as the gothic arches and tracery. If you look closely, you can also see Southwark Bridge in the distance.