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“Portsmouth
Point with Gosport in the distance” This view from the bottom of Broad Street owes something to artist's licence, as Gosport should lie in the direction the man in the centre of the picture is pointing. Portsmouth Point, an area no more than a quarter of a mile in any direction, was one of Portsmouth’s busiest landing points as is reflected in this picture by the many small boats disembarking people at the 'hard' or landing slip. It was also an ideal place for sequestering roistering sailors, brought by liberty boat from ships lying at Spithead, as it was separated from the town by the guarded King's Gate and by a moat across Broad Street. One ship at anchor appears to be flying a paying-off pennant so there would soon be sailors ashore with money in their pockets – but not for long! Rowlandson also sketched a similar scene, published by Thomas Tegg in 1814 and reproduced widely ever since. It reflects some less savoury aspects of Portsmouth Point which had been called the 'Wapping of Portsmouth' and likened to Gomorrah. In 1784 the small area boasted 53 drinking houses, as well as cook shops, slop (clothes) sellers and tailors, money lenders and pawnbrokers, trinket sellers and everything else the Jack ashore could need. The 1814 sketch being more of a caricature, Rowlandson probably used generic names rather than actual ones, for the premises to the left that he labelled 'Moses Levy, Money lender', and the 'Ship Tavern' to the right. The building on the left of Rowlandson's picture was, for most of the 19th century, The Union tavern. It still stands, somewhat altered, as The Spice Island Inn and Portsmouth Point is now considered a very desirable area. Pencil, pen and grey ink and watercolour [1791]. Image size: 9 x 12 ¾ ins (22.9 x 32.4 cms) approx. Overall size of mounted watercolour: 13 ½ x 16 ¾ ins (34.3 x 42.5 cms) approx . Price (mounted): £90 (+ V.A.T. where applicable) Original purchased with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Art Collections Fund. Published by Maritime Prints & Originals at www.thomasrowlandson.com and www.thomasrowlandson.co.uk |
