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Mouth of the River Lea facing Greenwich

Unknown

1815

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

British Romanticism Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Mouth of the River Lea facing Greenwich is a 1815 watercolor by Unknown, a British Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1815 · British Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolor shows a calm river with small boats and ships sailing toward a distant town. The shore has a wooden fence and grassy bank, while hills roll in the background under a pale sky. A flag waves from a building on the right, and trees line the riverbank. The scene feels quiet but busy, with different boats suggesting trade or travel. The soft colors and gentle waves match the style of the Romanticism movement. Check out Romanticism to see how artists used nature and emotion in their work.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour from 1815 shows the River Lea’s estuary looking toward Greenwich, with sailboats, clippers and paddle steamers on the Thames, the Royal Naval Asylum (now the National Maritime Museum) on the right midground, and the Royal Observatory atop Greenwich Park in the middle background.

Read the full account in the museum source.