Liverpool from Seacombe Boat House

This watercolour is one of a pair of panoramic watercolour views of Liverpool by Rooker. They were engraved by the artist's father and published in 1770 (see 'View of Liverpool from the Bowling Green' (WAG 8654) also in the collection of the Walker Art Gallery). The dome of St. Paul's church, designed by Thomas Lightoller (dates unknown) and built in 1765-1769, can be seen clearly on the left. The large range of buildings in the middle of the waterfront represents the Goree warehouses that had already been planned by 1770 but were not built until over twenty years later. This picture and its pair were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London at it's inaugural exhibition in spring 1769.