Old water tower at York Buildings, Whitehall
1791
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1791
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This drawing shows a tall, odd-shaped water tower next to a river. Boats are tied up along the dock, and a crane stands nearby. The tower has a narrow top with small windows and a wider base with a staircase. Buildings and trees fill the background, and the sky is light with faint clouds. The artist used fine lines to show texture, like the wood of the boats and the rough walls. This kind of drawing was common in the 1700s for recording everyday scenes. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
