Old Battersea Bridge and the Swan Inn
Watercolour by J. Hassell, depicting Old Battersea Bridge and the Swan Inn. 1821.
The watercolour depicts an old wooden bridge crossing the river in Battersea. The bridge dominates the foreground with its wooden structure with a series of triangular arches. The water below the river appears calm with reflections and shadows from the bridge and the surrounding buildings.
To the left there is a large building with two stories and a roof with 4 chimneys. To the right of the there is a number of buildings of different sizes and roof types.
The background is dominated by a line of trees. The sky is pale yellow.
The watercolour is signed "J. Hassell 1821".
Artist Biography
John Hassell (c. 1767–1825) John Hassell was an English watercolourist, engraver, illustrator, and drawing-master. He produced numerous aquatint views of local scenery, often hand-coloured and published in topographical volumes. A prolific teacher and author, he wrote instructional books on watercolour painting and drawing. Hassell was a friend of George Morland, whose biography he published in 1800, and whose work he also engraved. His son Edward Hassell followed in his footsteps as a watercolourist.
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