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Lot Essay
John MacVicar Anderson (1835-1915) was an architect and painter who specialised in topographical pictures, especially views of London. He exhibited various architectural designs at the Royal Academy between 1856 and 1896. His views of London usually include a view of the Thames and are known for their accurate delineation of the city skyline. One of his most celebrated paintings of London is Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, seen from the River (Museum of London). Anderson was also responsible for the façade of Christie's, King Street.
This view of the River Thames, looking east over Waterloo Bridge towards St Paul's Cathedral, is taken from Hungerford Bridge. Hungerford Railway Bridge runs between Charing Cross and Waterloo. It was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw to carry the South Eastern Railway over the river to its new West End terminus at Charing Cross. It was completed in 1864 and incorporated a footbridge, from which Anderson presumably painted the present work.
Waterloo Bridge was first built in 1811-17 and was opened by the Prince Regent on the second anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1817. Described by Canova as 'the noblest bridge in the world, worth a visit from the remotest corners of the earth,' it was built of granite with nine elliptical arches and pairs of Doric columns at the piers. The bridge in the present picture was demolished in 1936, and was replaced in 1942 by one designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
Somerset House, shown to the left of the picture, was designed in the last quarter of the 18th century by Sir William Chambers. It replaced an earlier Renaissance palace that was demolished after 1775 when Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, chose to live at Buckingham House (now Buckingham Palace) and it was no longer used as a Royal residence. The new building was designed around a large courtyard with a free-standing north wing.
A similar view by Anderson, measuring 30 x 60 in., was sold at Christie's on 26 November 1999, lot 93 (£70,000). The viewpoint was also taken from Hungerford Bridge but was directed in a more south-easterly direction, with less horizon to the left of the picture and a wider view of the South Bank to the right of the picture. Like the present work, the Thames had hay-barges and narrow-boats to the foreground, seen lowering their masts to pass under the arches of Waterloo bridge.
This view of the River Thames, looking east over Waterloo Bridge towards St Paul's Cathedral, is taken from Hungerford Bridge. Hungerford Railway Bridge runs between Charing Cross and Waterloo. It was designed by Sir John Hawkshaw to carry the South Eastern Railway over the river to its new West End terminus at Charing Cross. It was completed in 1864 and incorporated a footbridge, from which Anderson presumably painted the present work.
Waterloo Bridge was first built in 1811-17 and was opened by the Prince Regent on the second anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, 18 June 1817. Described by Canova as 'the noblest bridge in the world, worth a visit from the remotest corners of the earth,' it was built of granite with nine elliptical arches and pairs of Doric columns at the piers. The bridge in the present picture was demolished in 1936, and was replaced in 1942 by one designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott.
Somerset House, shown to the left of the picture, was designed in the last quarter of the 18th century by Sir William Chambers. It replaced an earlier Renaissance palace that was demolished after 1775 when Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, chose to live at Buckingham House (now Buckingham Palace) and it was no longer used as a Royal residence. The new building was designed around a large courtyard with a free-standing north wing.
A similar view by Anderson, measuring 30 x 60 in., was sold at Christie's on 26 November 1999, lot 93 (£70,000). The viewpoint was also taken from Hungerford Bridge but was directed in a more south-easterly direction, with less horizon to the left of the picture and a wider view of the South Bank to the right of the picture. Like the present work, the Thames had hay-barges and narrow-boats to the foreground, seen lowering their masts to pass under the arches of Waterloo bridge.