Panorama of London, by William Smith, 1588

Draughtsman: William Smith

Medium: Ink and pigments on vellum

Date: 1588

LONDON IN THE YEAR OF THE ARMADA.
In this panorama William Smith has combined a profile view of London with a perspective view of Whitehall and Westminster. Neither was original. The city view is probably derived from a mural by Wyngaerde in Whitehall Palace, while the bird?s-eye view seems to be copied from the ?Copperplate Map? and its successors. Smith shows St Paul?s without its spire and south of the river, to the left of what is now Southwark Cathedral, he emphasises the large palace of the bishops of Winchester, of which only the west wall now survives. Further west, there are bull and bear-baiting pits but not yet theatres.

Source:  The British Library’s on-line Unveiling of Britain Collection

(http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/p/027slo000002596u00052000.html)