Daniel Pender Davidson (1855-1933)
Moonlight and Mist, Battersea Bridge
signed ‘D. Pender Davidson’ (lower right)
and inscribed ‘MOONLIGHT AND MIST./ BATTERSEA BRIDGE.’ (lower left)
oil on canvas
16 ⅛ x 24 in. (40.9 x 60.9 cm.)
frame 24 ¼ x 32 ¼ in. (61.6 x 81.9 cm.)
Daniel Pender Davidson lived on Battersea Bridge Road, and so the present work depicts a view that he must have been more than familiar with. His atmospheric rendering of the iconic bridge forms part of a long legacy of art inspired by the area. James Abbot McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), in his nocturnes, painted the bridge and surrounding river numerous times, as did Walter Greaves (1) (1846-1930) - his boatman and pupil. Other artists, including John Sell Cotman (1782-1842), Atkinson Grimshaw (1836- 1893) and Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), also painted Battersea Bridge, while J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) captured the Thames from the window of the Church of St Mary’s nearby, where William Blake (1857-1827) was married in 1782.
FOOTNOTE
(1) Walter Greaves’ father was J.M.W. Turner’s boatman.