View of London from Albion Place

This is a panoramic painted view of London, as seen from one end of Blackfriars Bridge, which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1798.

The view includes the river, Blackfriars Bridge populated by vehicles and pedestrians, church spires and St. Paul's Cathedral. Blackfriars Bridge, seen here linking the north and south banks of the city, opened as a toll bridge in 1769. The toll bridge was unpopular for Londoners, who objected to paying the fee to cross the bridge. During the Gordon riots of 1780, the toll-house was actually burnt down and tolls were removed shortly afterwards in 1785.

A number of artists worked on this painting and there has been some dispute about who is responsible for the figures seen here. A label on the reverse states that the figures are by Rowlandson but this was challenged in 1951 when it was suggested that they are more likely to be by Edward Dayes. However, contrary to both these assertions, is the description when it was exhibited at the Royal Academy that the figures were by the artist J.C. Barrow.