This late 19th-century oil painting by American artist Charles Henry Miller (1842-1922) depicts an evening view on the River Lea at Tottenham, London. Miller was an ingenious painter of landscapes and a member of the National Academy. Gently lit by the early rays of a rising sun, several vessels bob on this busy waterway. On a nearby barge, two sailors appear to be stepping a mast. While beyond, the horizon is punctuated by triangular sails. Miller visited London several times and it’s conceivable that, on this occasion in 1885, he took a boat along the river. This is an exceedingly rare find as, according to our records, it’s the first time that one of his London works has been publicly available.Born in Manhattan, New York, Miller’s father, Jacob Miller, was an architect and evidently furnished his son with a natural aptitude for drawing. It’s fascinating to consider whether such skills are acquired via one’s DNA or through observation and nurture. His dexterity as a draughts...