• J.W.F. Stephen, who formed a definitive collection of the etched work of Sydney Long. J.A.C. Stephen, the artist’s son, by descent. Purchased by the Australian National Gallery, from J.A.C. Stephen, Sydney, 1977.

'Twenty bridges from Tower to Kew —/ Wanted to know what the River knew,/ Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,/ For they were young, and the Thames was old/ And this is the tale that river told.'

So wrote Rudyard Kipling in his poem about the Thames 'The river's tale' (1911).

The river from Blackfriars Bridge is one of Long’s prints in which the artist paid homage to James McNeill Whistler and his etchings of scenes on the Thames, such as Old Hungerford Bridge 1861. Long used a range of sharp, etched lines to depict the scene, with lighter marks in the background to convey a sense of distance. In ‘“The river from Blackfriars’ Bridge”, Mr. Long shows his capacity in expression and full command of his subject’, wrote the Sydney Morning Herald reviewer on 15 December 1925.

Blackfriars Bridge links the City of London with Southwark. It was opened in 1869 by Queen Victoria, whose statue stands at the northern end. Long depicted the view on the south bank looking up the river towards Waterloo Bridge. The prominent tower rising from the horizon on the left was originally built towards the end of the 19th century as a power station for the post office

A copy of The river from Blackfriars Bridge was first exhibited in 1925 at the ‘Fifth annual exhibition of the Australian Painter–Etchers’ Society’, Sydney, 6–25 July (90, as ‘The Thames from Blackfriars Bridge). It was reproduced Art in Australia, 13 September 1925, plate 35. Another copy is held by the National Gallery of Australia, and copies, one in black brown ink, one in dark brown ink and a third in brown ink, are held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Copies are held by the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

'Twenty bridges from Tower to Kew —/ Wanted to know what the River knew,/ Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,/ For they were young, and the Thames was old/ And this is the tale that river told.'

So wrote Rudyard Kipling in his poem about the Thames 'The river's tale' (1911).

The river from Blackfriars Bridge is one of Long’s prints in which the artist paid homage to James McNeill Whistler and his etchings of scenes on the Thames, such as Old Hungerford Bridge 1861. Long used a range of sharp, etched lines to depict the scene, with lighter marks in the background to convey a sense of distance. In ‘“The river from Blackfriars’ Bridge”, Mr. Long shows his capacity in expression and full command of his subject’, wrote the Sydney Morning Herald reviewer on 15 December 1925.

Blackfriars Bridge links the City of London with Southwark. It was opened in 1869 by Queen Victoria, whose statue stands at the northern end. Long depicted the view on the south bank looking up the river towards Waterloo Bridge. The prominent tower rising from the horizon on the left was originally built towards the end of the 19th century as a power station for the post office

A copy of The river from Blackfriars Bridge was first exhibited in 1925 at the ‘Fifth annual exhibition of the Australian Painter–Etchers’ Society’, Sydney, 6–25 July (90, as ‘The Thames from Blackfriars Bridge). It was reproduced Art in Australia, 13 September 1925, plate 35. Another copy is held by the National Gallery of Australia, and copies, one in black brown ink, one in dark brown ink and a third in brown ink, are held by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Copies are held by the Art Gallery of South Australia and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.