Greenwich from One Tree Hill

The topography of this picture suggests that the view is datable to circa 1678. The old Royal Observatory situated on One Tree Hill was built for John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, by Christopher Wren in 1675-76. The one tree on the hill was destroyed in a storm in 1848. To the right of the Royal Observatory are the houses of Crooms Hill, an ancient road dating back to the 12th century. Beyond these houses are the towers of the medieval St. Alphege, Greenwich, and St. Nicholas, Deptford. The Queen's House, designed by Inigo Jones, is depicted in the centre foreground and to the right are the beginnings of the intended palace of King Charles II. The first stage of this palace was designed by John Webb and built in 1664. It eventually became the King Charles Block of Greenwich Hospital, a place in effect for naval pensioners. The rest of the building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor and Sir John Vanburgh. In the far distance is the City of London, dominated already by the spires of post-Fire churches and by the Monument, completed in 1676. Building work on the new St. Paul's Cathedral had already commenced, but the dome was not added to the structure until the beginning of the next century.

Vosterman probably came to England circa 1677 and his View of Althorp (still in situ) is recorded as having been seen there in 1678. He left England in 1686 for Constantinople. Versions of this subject by Vosterman are in The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and the Guildhall Art Gallery.