What characterises 19th-century British marine and river landscape paintings?

Victorian river and marine landscape paintings typically feature working waterways, merchant shipping, and atmospheric city skylines. Artists focused on capturing natural light reflections on water alongside industrial or architectural elements of major ports and rivers.

What traditional materials were used in Victorian canvas artwork?

Paintings from this era were created using oil-based pigments applied to natural linen or cotton canvas stretched over wooden frames. They were frequently finished with a protective varnish layer and housed in heavy wooden frames decorated with moulded gesso and gold leaf.

How can you identify authentic 19th-century oil paintings?

Authentic period oil paintings display natural craquelure across the paint surface, original wooden stretchers with age-appropriate oxidisation, and hand-gilded gesso frames. Artist signatures, exhibition labels, or stencil marks on the reverse of the canvas also assist in period identification.

How do you style an antique framed townscape in a contemporary space?

A dark, gilded townscape painting serves as an anchor piece above a fireplace or console table. Pairing historical artwork with modern minimalism creates a balanced contrast, highlighting the detailed brushwork and warm metallic accents of the frame.

What is the proper method for cleaning and preserving framed oil paintings?

Keep oil paintings away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and fluctuating humidity levels to prevent canvas warping and paint flaking. Dust the frame gently with a soft, dry camel-hair brush, and avoid using chemical liquids or water directly on the paint surface.

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St Pauls Cathedral Artwork

Nineteenth Century Maritime Art

Antique Marine Landscape Painting

Id #SA1227804

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Townscape Oil Painting of Boats on the River Thames with St Pauls & Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino

19th century

For Sale by Benton Fine Art

Description

Francis Moltino

Italian, (1818-1888)

The River Thames with St Paul’s & Blackfriars Bridge

Oil on canvas, indistinctly signed with monogram

Image size: 23.25 inches x 35.25 inches

Size including frame: 30.75 inches x 42.75 inches

A tranquil painting of the Thames with St Pauls Cathedral and Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino. The view looks down the Thames towards the City of London to the left and Southwark to the right and could well have been taken from the old Waterloo Bridge. In the foreground to the left, figures on Thames barges moor their boats by the side of the Victoria Embankment. Meanwhile, a transport boat filled with supplies, most likely a Lighter, makes its way towards the middle of the Thames from the other side as another vessel glides underneath Blackfriars Bridge. Rising above the buildings to the left, lies the distinctive silhouette of St Pauls Cathedral. In the distance to the right, the tower of Southwark Cathedral can be made out.

Francis or Frank Moltino was a marine painter born in Milan, Italy around 1818. By the early 1840’s, he had moved to England where he married and had several children. One of his daughters, Frances Moltino, also became an artist. The family initially lived in the Tower Hamlet area of London before moving to 5 Little Russell Street, from where he began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1848. Works at the RA include ‘Early Morning – Waiting for the Tide’, ‘View of the Thames’, ‘Battersea Old Mill’, and ‘Morning on Burgh Flats’.

As well as painting views of the Thames he also travelled around the coast of England. Later on, he visited Venice and produced a number of works of the famous city, returning to England by 1880, where he lived at 13 Rush Hill Terrace, Lavender Hill, Battersea. He died at 31 Fitzwilliam-road, Clapham on 15 April 1888.

Moltino’s works have a continental feel and with his brushwork and pastel coloured palette, his style is often compared with Turner. Many of his subjects featured busy harbour views such as this fine example. Examples of his paintings can be found at the Guildhall Art Gallery and the Cooper Gallery, Barnsley.

Presentation: The work is housed in a new, English made gilt frame which is in excellent condition.

Condition: As with all of our original antique oil paintings, this work is offered in ready to hang gallery condition, having been professionally cleaned, restored and revarnished.

© Benton Fine Art

Physical Dimensions

Height

78cm (30.71")

Width

108.5cm (42.72")

Depth

7.5cm (2.95")

Declaration

Benton Fine Art has dated this Victorian Thames Oil Painting to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1227804

Dealers Notes

Members of the British Antique Dealers Association (BADA) the London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association (LAPADA).

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If you would like to purchase this item or have any questions, please email us at pictures@bentonfineart.com or call 07710 540549.

© Benton Fine Art

Description

Francis Moltino

Italian, (1818-1888)

The River Thames with St Paul’s & Blackfriars Bridge

Oil on canvas, indistinctly signed with monogram

Image size: 23.25 inches x 35.25 inches

Size including frame: 30.75 inches x 42.75 inches

A tranquil painting of the Thames with St Pauls Cathedral and Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino.

“

The view looks down the Thames towards the City of London to the left and Southwark to the right and could well have been taken from the old Waterloo Bridge.

Benton Fine Art

In the foreground to the left, figures on Thames barges moor their boats by the side of the Victoria Embankment. Meanwhile, a transport boat filled with supplies, most likely a Lighter, makes its way towards the middle of the Thames from the other side as another vessel glides underneath Blackfriars Bridge. Rising above the buildings to the left, lies the distinctive silhouette of St Pauls Cathedral. In the distance to the right, the tower of Southwark Cathedral can be made out.

fig 1. A nineteenth-century oil painting depicting sailing barges on the River Thames with St Pauls Cathedral in the background, set within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 1. Townscape Oil Painting of Boats on the River Thames with St Pauls & Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino

Francis or Frank Moltino was a marine painter born in Milan, Italy around 1818. By the early 1840’s, he had moved to England where he married and had several children. One of his daughters, Frances Moltino, also became an artist. The family initially lived in the Tower Hamlet area of London before moving to 5 Little Russell Street, from where he began exhibiting at the Royal Academy in 1848. Works at the RA include ‘Early Morning – Waiting for the Tide’, ‘View of the Thames’, ‘Battersea Old Mill’, and ‘Morning on Burgh Flats’.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century oil painting depicting sailing barges on the River Thames with St Pauls Cathedral in the background, set within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 2. Townscape Oil Painting of Boats on the River Thames with St Pauls & Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino

As well as painting views of the Thames he also travelled around the coast of England. Later on, he visited Venice and produced a number of works of the famous city, returning to England by 1880, where he lived at 13 Rush Hill Terrace, Lavender Hill, Battersea. He died at 31 Fitzwilliam-road, Clapham on 15 April 1888.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century oil painting depicting sailing barges on the River Thames with St Pauls Cathedral in the background, set within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 3. Townscape Oil Painting of Boats on the River Thames with St Pauls & Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino

Moltino’s works have a continental feel and with his brushwork and pastel coloured palette, his style is often compared with Turner. Many of his subjects featured busy harbour views such as this fine example. Examples of his paintings can be found at the Guildhall Art Gallery and the Cooper Gallery, Barnsley.

fig 4. A nineteenth-century oil painting depicting sailing barges on the River Thames with St Pauls Cathedral in the background, set within an ornate gilded frame. — fig 4. Townscape Oil Painting of Boats on the River Thames with St Pauls & Blackfriars Bridge by Francis Moltino

Presentation: The work is housed in a new, English made gilt frame which is in excellent condition.

Condition: As with all of our original antique oil paintings, this work is offered in ready to hang gallery condition, having been professionally cleaned, restored and revarnished.