An extensive view of the Thames and the city of London with old London Bridge from the East, the church of St. Magnus and the Monument beyond

This picture derives from Samuel Scott's views of Old London Bridge (for which see R. Kingzett, A Catalogue of the Works of Samuel Scott, Walpole Society, XLVIII, 1982, pp.42-48, under A-E).
In 1746 the Lord Mayor called a Court Inquiry to discuss Old London Bridge which was proving dangerous to navigation of the Thames and too narrow for the traffic it had to bear. Ten years later the decision was taken to rebuild. The old structure was, however, a familiar London landmark, having survived for 600 years and its proposed destruction provoked strong reactions. The emotive nature of the subject probably explains the number of times Scott was called upon to paint it.