UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

architecture, boat, house, landscape, river, sailing boat.

It is called 'Hurlingham' by all cataloguers, as for example:

'Hurlingham' (1886, Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921)). 2

A scene on the Thames, above London: on the left is a four-storey building, possibly with pillars running vertically the height of the building between the windows. Behind and to left a three-storey wing or a separate building is visible. Further to the right there are trees on each side of a two-storey house, which either has large windows or an arcade on the ground floor. More two- or three-storey buildings extend into the distance at right. In the middle distance, running right across the scene, is a line of rowing boats or skiffs moored together (possibly along a jetty). At the far right a flag or pennant (or rag!) is blowing to right, from a pole. One of the boats at left and one at right have small sails, and two broader flat boats, to right of centre, have large sails raised, but no figures are visible. All are reflected in the water.

The Thames at Hurlingham, 2009.
Photograph © M.F.MacDonald, Whistler Etchings Project.

Hurlingham is on the river Thames in Fulham, west London, across the river from Wandsworth. Hurlingham Park looks south, across the river, to Wandsworth Park. It was a site where both amateur and professional activities overlapped. Thames barges, boats and tugs as well as rowboats and skiffs crowded the broad river. Hurlingham itself was a sporting venue for London Society, including Royalty, to watch and play polo, while the public could watch boat races from the riverbank.