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Lot Essay
This the first of the Putney Bridges was built of timber in 1727-9 by the master carpenter Thomas Philips, to the design of of Sir Joseph Ackworth. Until 1750, when Westminster Bridge was opened, it was the only bridge which spanned the river west of London Bridge. In 1882, Sir Joseph Bazalgette replaced the old bridge with the five-span granite structure, which incorporated an aqueduct built by the Chelsea Waterworks Company.
The figure in the foreground with a purple coat, silver arm badge and his back to the viewer is a winner of the annual sculling event known as 'Doggett's coat and badge' race. In the early 1700s some 10,000 watermen were licensed to work on the Thames above London Bridge. These London boatmen wore a special livery and betting developed between the gentry on their speed and skill. The race for 'Doggett's Coat and Badge', the foundation of boat racing, was established in 1716 at the request of Thomas Doggett, a comedian and joint manager of Drury Lane Theatre. The race ran from Tower Hill and finished at Putney Bridge.
Putney Bridge maintains its association with boat races as Doggett's race continues, under the auspices of the Fishmonger's Company and since 1845 this spot has been the starting point of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Rowlandson executed another version of this view, slightly larger, which was sold Sotheby's, London, 9 March 1989, lot 45, £4,400; and a view from the other side of Putney bridge looking across the river. There is also a drawing in the Paul Mellon Collection entitled The sculling race for Doggett's coat and badge, see J. Baskett and D. Snelgrove, The Drawings of Thomas Rowlandson in the Paul Mellon Collection, London, 1977, pl. 116, which shows Rowlandson's fascination with the subject.
The figure in the foreground with a purple coat, silver arm badge and his back to the viewer is a winner of the annual sculling event known as 'Doggett's coat and badge' race. In the early 1700s some 10,000 watermen were licensed to work on the Thames above London Bridge. These London boatmen wore a special livery and betting developed between the gentry on their speed and skill. The race for 'Doggett's Coat and Badge', the foundation of boat racing, was established in 1716 at the request of Thomas Doggett, a comedian and joint manager of Drury Lane Theatre. The race ran from Tower Hill and finished at Putney Bridge.
Putney Bridge maintains its association with boat races as Doggett's race continues, under the auspices of the Fishmonger's Company and since 1845 this spot has been the starting point of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.
Rowlandson executed another version of this view, slightly larger, which was sold Sotheby's, London, 9 March 1989, lot 45, £4,400; and a view from the other side of Putney bridge looking across the river. There is also a drawing in the Paul Mellon Collection entitled The sculling race for Doggett's coat and badge, see J. Baskett and D. Snelgrove, The Drawings of Thomas Rowlandson in the Paul Mellon Collection, London, 1977, pl. 116, which shows Rowlandson's fascination with the subject.