The Thames by the Tower of London

The Thames by the Tower of London, painted in 1759, captures one of the most historically resonant stretches of the river, where the medieval fortress had guarded London's eastern approach for seven centuries. Scott painted numerous views of this reach of the Thames, recording the constant traffic of lighters, barges, and ocean-going ships that made it the busiest waterway in the world. Scott's Thames views constitute the most comprehensive pictorial survey of London's riverside ever undertaken by a single artist.

Scott balances the imposing mass of the Tower against the animated river scene, with careful attention to the varied types of vessels and the characteristic grey-green quality of Thames light.