Covent Garden Piazza and Market

When Scott made this painting, Covent Garden was rapidly becoming London's most important fruit and vegetable market. The throng of people depicted gives a clear indication of its significance. Scott has focused his attention on the architecture but still manages to populate the image with a host of human activity. On the right, for instance, a couple exchange blows over an upset cart, whilst above them a man stands on a plank to clean upper storey windows.

The painting was left unfinished, with several details missing, such as the spire of St Martin's-in-the-Fields, which would have been clearly visible over the rooftops at the time Scott was working.

Scott was working at the same time as the Italian painter, Canaletto, who came to England in 1746 and produced detailed topographical paintings of London. Like Canaletto, Scott tended to paint the views of the city from the Thames.