The Old Sacramento 1885

"The Old Sacramento" (1885) by Tom Roberts captures the industrial landscape of a changing city. The painting depicts a large ship beached and being dismantled, a testament to the fading maritime trade of the era. In the background, smoke billows from factories and chimneys, signaling the rise of modern industry. Roberts' use of muted tones and realistic detail adds to the melancholy atmosphere, portraying the end of an era as a new one emerges.