The view of the City of London from Bankside was a subject Wilkinson returned to throughout his career. Among others, the theme inspired a 1925 travel poster commissioned by LMS Railway and an oil exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1953. Aside from being famed for devising 'Dazzle camouflage' to combat German U-boats in the First World War, Wilkinson was principally a marine painter and the Thames provided a constant source of inspiration, as did the ever-changing London skyline. This work, dating to the 1960s, delicately captures activity on the river and the vast scale of St. Paul's Cathedral beyond. To the right (looking east) can be seen Blackfriars Bridge and the Faraday Building to the left is the old City of London School building and the back of Unilever House.
A similar work to the present painting can be found in the Guildhall Art Gallery collection.
Provenance
with James Boulet and Sons, Nassau Street, London.
with The Tryon Gallery, Dover Street, London.