View of the river Thames at Westminster Bridge, with Lambeth Palace, St. John's Smith Square, the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey

The picture probably derives from one of the many engravings of this view, the prime source being Canaletto's painting of 1746, now in the collection of the Yale Center for British Art.

From early in London's history through to the 19th century the Thames served as London's main thoroughfare. The Thames was filled with crafts of every kind with lightermen carrying loads from ships to quays and waterman carrying passengers. Travel on the river was for centuries the cheapest, most pleasant and rapid means of transport. As well as conveying commoners on their daily rounds, watermen were also needed to row the carved and gilded barges of the Sovereign, the Lord Mayor and other dignitaries of the City Livery Companies on state occasions and festivities. Depicted in the picture are an open hold sprit-rigged sailing barge with tiller steering, several wherries, one with a canopy and its sail up, and a ceremonial barge.