A WATERCOLOUR painting showing Portsmouth in the 18th century has been brought back to the city.
Portsmouth City Museum, in Museum Road, Old Portsmouth, bought the piece, painted by Thomas Rowlandson in the 1790s, with help from the Art Fund.
The painting shows the ‘fly’, a fast horse-drawn carriage crammed with people, heading towards Portsmouth down London Road. The background includes Southsea Castle, Portsea Island and Portchester Castle.
Rosalinda Hardiman, collection manager for Portsmouth Museum, said: ‘It’s a lovely painting in which Rowlandson has managed to capture the essence of the area.
‘We have been overwhelmed by the level of support and funding we have received, and would like to thank everyone who gave so generously.
‘The Portsmouth Fly is finally where it belongs, back in the heart of the city and we have had a good response to it.’
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