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First Landing of the Royal Artillery in the Bosphorus. from the Mercia In the distance is the barrack Kooleli, and the Terrible on her return to the Black Sea

Edwin Weedon

1854

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Early 19th Century Marine

Dominant colour

First Landing of the Royal Artillery in the Bosphorus. from the Mercia In the distance is the barrack Kooleli, and the Terrible on her return to the Black Sea is a 1854 watercolor by Edwin Weedon, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Edwin Weedon
When & what style?: 1854 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This sketch shows a busy dock scene with a large wooden ship docked on the left. Workers in hats and coats are hauling heavy cannons on wheeled carts pulled by horses. In the background, a tall stone building with small windows stands near the water, and another ship is visible farther out. The artist included a note at the bottom explaining this was the first landing of military equipment in the Bosphorus. The rough, sketchy lines and muted colors suggest it was drawn quickly on the spot. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see this watercolor in person.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour drawing depicts the first landing of the Royal Horse Artillery in the Bosphorus on 3 May 1854, with the transport ship Mercia carrying the left division of Captain Levinge’s troop in the foreground and the No.21 transport behind it. In the background, the barrack Koolleli is visible on the right at the base of the hills, having been allocated by the Turkish government for the Royal Artillery. The steamship Terrible appears in the far distance, rounding the left point of the strait as it returns to the Black Sea. The work was later reproduced in the Illustrated London News, with…

Read the full account in the museum source.