Collection of Sir Bruce Ingram.
This watercolour is the original design for an illustration featured on plate 11 in Serres’ 1801 navigational book The Little Sea Torch: or True Guide for Coasting Pilots, which he translated from Rene Bougard's 1684 book Le petit flambeau de la mer. Serres added his own illustrations and plate 11 consists of six vignettes of lighthouses, with the present scene entitled - Leghorn. Carara Mountains. Entrance of the Inner Harbour between the Castel Vechio & Town Gate. Serres travelled extensively around the Mediterranean after being appointed Marine Draughtsman to the Admiralty in 1800 and tasked with documenting features of coastlines, such as headlands, landmarks, harbours and lighthouses. A number of the works he produced during these voyages were later published in The Little Sea Torch.
