Who painted Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745?

Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745 was painted by George Pyne in 1835.

Where can I see Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745?

Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745 is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745?

Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745 is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745

George Pyne , 1835

Old London Bridge as it appeared in 1745 is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist George Pyne. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

George Pyne’s watercolour, executed in 1835, offers a retrospective view of Old London Bridge as it stood in 1745. The signed and dated work presents a tranquil Thames scene, with the historic bridge framed by riverside structures and a modest fleet of vessels. Soft, muted tones and delicate brushwork convey a calm atmosphere, inviting quiet contemplation of the river’s past.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on the bridge’s arches, flanked by the tightly packed houses that once lined its span. Boats of varying sizes— a small rowboat tied to a post and a larger sailboat anchored nearby— populate the foreground, suggesting everyday river traffic and the bridge’s role as a bustling thoroughfare in mid‑eighteenth‑century London.

Technique & Style

Pyne employs a restrained palette of greys and earth tones, applying gentle washes that soften architectural details while preserving their recognizability. The water’s surface is rendered with subtle ripples, and the sky is depicted in a muted, cloudy grey, enhancing the overall sense of stillness and historical distance.

History & Provenance

The watercolour was likely shown at the Old Water Colour Society’s 1836 exhibition under the title “London Bridge, 1740, before the Houses were taken down.” Its exhibition history confirms the artist’s intention to document the bridge prior to the removal of its iconic houses, a transformation that occurred later in the eighteenth century.

Context

At the time of its creation, Pyne’s work reflected a growing Victorian interest in documenting London’s architectural heritage before further urban change. By portraying the bridge as it appeared a century earlier, the painting serves both as a historical record and as a visual nostalgia for a vanished urban landscape.