View of Westminster from Vauxhall, London

David Cox (1783-1859)
View of Westminster from Vauxhall, London

Signed lower right: D. Cox
watercolour over pencil heightened with bodycolour and scratching out
19.1 by 26.6cm., 7 ½ by 10 ½ in.

This is a view of Westminster taken from the south bank of the Thames near Vauxhall. Stylistically this work dates from the mid 1830s. In October 1834 a fire destroyed the old Houses of Parliament but it is difficult to tell from this angle whether Cox is drawing this view before or after the fire. Westminster Hall which is visible to the right of Westminster Abbey emerged relatively unscathed by the fire. To the left of Westminster Abbey stand the four towers of St. John's, Smith Square in front. To the right, the other side of Westminster Bridge, is the shot tower which was built in 1826.

Cox exhibited a number of views on the Thames in the 1820s and 1830s. In 1827, he returned to live in London from Hereford remaining until 1841 when he returned to his hometown of Birmingham. A view of Westminster taken from Battersea was sold at Sotheby's on 14th November 1991, lot 121