Ludgate, Evening 1887

John O'Connor captured this view of Ludgate in the evening, using oil paint to evoke a sense of bustling urban life dominated by the architectural mass of St. Paul's Cathedral. The painting's structure is carefully constructed, with receding lines of buildings framing the central view towards the cathedral. O'Connor uses a muted palette of greys and browns, punctuated by the warmer tones of street lighting and shopfronts. This contrast draws the eye through the crowded street towards the monumental dome. The composition uses atmospheric perspective to flatten the distance between the viewer and the background. The cathedral looms, yet its monumentality is softened by the industrial haze. The artist masterfully plays with scale and perspective, embedding a symbol of enduring power within the rapidly changing modern city. The visible brushstrokes and texture of the paint remind us of the artist's hand in shaping our perception of this urban scene. O’Connor’s painting offers a fascinating study in contrasts, capturing the dynamism of 19th-century London, where progress and tradition intersect.