This painting captures something of 'modern' London life in the 1870s, from the tugs and barges that puff up and down the river to the people enjoying their leisure time, strolling along the newly constructed Victoria Embankment.
The instantly recognisable silhouette of Big Ben identifies the shadowy buildings in the background as the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge.
Learn more about the architecture of other London landmarks at the Victoria and Albert Museum
