View of the Thames, with Westminster Bridge from the North on Lord Mayor's Day

This picture shows the procession of the Lord Mayor in the city barge to Westminster to be 'sworn in', a ceremony that took place on 29 October every year (in the case of Canaletto's picture, the year was 1746). The Lord Mayor's barge has eighteen oarsmen. Other barges on the river belong to different guilds, such as the Skinners, Goldsmiths, Fishmongers, Clothworkers, Vintners, Merchant Taylors, Mercers, and Drapers. Small pleasure craft can also be seen on the water. On the horizon (from right to left) can be seen St. Margaret's, the parish church of Westminster, the twin towers and nave of Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Westminster Hall, now the entrance to the Houses of Parliament, St. Stephen's Chapel and, behind the trees, St. John's Church, Smith Square. The picture also shows Westminster Bridge; opened in 1750 this was only the second bridge in the city to cross the Thames (after the centuries-old London Bridge).