Page:Catalogue of a collection of early drawings and pictures of London, with some contemporary furniture (1920).djvu/56



with its many arches, several blocked by mills and waterworks, it checked flow of water, hence freezing of Thames above bridge, frost fairs, and danger of passing through in boat, or "shooting the bridge." On central pier, projecting to east, was chapel of St. Thomas-à-Becket, with crypt beneath. In foreground is Southwark gate-*house (afterwards rebuilt), with heads of traitors above parapet, a display originally over building farther north, destroyed in 1577.

This picture is clearly not contemporary. It looks like eighteenth century work, founded on an earlier painting, or on such engraved views as Visscher's (1616) and the small one in Howell's "Londinopolis" (1657).

Lent by the Bank of England.

91 WESTMINSTER FROM BELOW YORK WATER-GATE.

Oil picture. 60 by 31-1/2 in.

Dates from soon after the Restoration. In the foreground to right is York Water-gate, in mid-distance is the Banqueting Hall. Next to that the louvred stone building is undoubtedly the great Hall, Whitehall, also visible in No. 89. It was about 100 feet long by 45 feet. Here several of Shakespeare's plays were acted before Queen Elizabeth; destroyed in fire of 1697, Horse Guards Avenue covers most of the site. Below Westminster Abbey, and projecting into river, is the public landing stage called Whitehall Stairs, with boats attached to it. The site of this is immediately east of the present Horse Guards Avenue. Beyond, but at first glance appearing to be part of same structure, are Privy Stairs, with covered passage. St. Margaret's Church, Westminster Hall, and St. Stephen's Chapel are grouped together. To extreme left is Lambeth Palace.

The artist, Thomas Wijck, Wyck, or Van Wyck, was born at Beverwyck about 1616. He studied with his father, and in Italy, and about the time of the Restoration came to England, where he was much employed. He painted several other views of London. Died at Haarlem, 1677.

By (about 1616-1677).

Lent by Mr. E. C. Grenfell.