View on the River Thames near the Tower of London

View on the River Thames near the Tower of London captures the stretch of river that served both as the commercial heart of the Port of London and as the approach to the medieval fortress. Scott painted this reach of the Thames repeatedly, drawn by the combination of naval, commercial, and historical associations concentrated in this small stretch of water. The Tower, rising above its riverside walls, provided a dramatically historic backdrop for the perpetual movement of lighters, barges, and ocean-going vessels that made this the busiest waterway in the world.

The Tower's massive stone walls provide an architectural anchor for the river scene, with the varied shipping on the Thames rendered in Scott's characteristic precise manner.