Watercolour depicting London roofs and chimneys with the Monument to the right of centre. The Monument was erected during the rebuilding of the city of London after the Great Fire of 1666, which devastated a large area of the city. Its total height is 202 feet and it is the tallest isolated stone column in the world with a spiral staircase of 311 steps. After many suicides at the Monument, the death of a maidservant in 1842 led to the enclosure of the gallery on its top by a cage. As well as his drawings of London’s port and shipping, Wyllie was also fascinated by the city's skyline, see also PAE1994 and PAE1995.