One of the many depictions of shipping on the Thames and in the docks by the marine artist William Lionel Wyllie (1851-1931). With the opening of the Royal Victoria Dock in 1855 and the Royal Albert Dock in 1880 Silvertown became the largest manufacturing centre in the south of England. The area was renowned for its chemical, engineering and food processing industries. Local industry relied heavily on the Royals Docks, which imported raw materials from all over the world. The work is signed ‘W L Wyllie’, lower left margin. For another version, see PAE4955.