Early footage of London, and paintings of London as it was during visits by some of the most famous impressionist painters of the day. Atmospheric and enchanting, these paintings and footage serve as glorious visions of the London of yesteryear. Today's contemporary London skyline is quite something, especially when seen from the restaurant on the 32nd floor of the Shard, a Renzo Piano designed masterpiece.

James Abbott MacNeil Whistler (1834-1903), Wapping, 1861, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), Balcony View of Battersea, 1870, Freer Gallery, Washington, DC

Claude Monet (1840-1926), Hyde Park, London, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania

Claude Monet (1840-1926), Houses of Parliament, 1903, Brooklyn Museum, NY

Claude Monet (1840-1926), Waterloo Bridge, 1903, Denver Art Museum, Colorado

Alfred Sisley (1839-1899), Molesey Weir, 1874, Hampton Court, National Galleries, Edinburgh, Scotland

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), The Avenue Sydenham 1871, National Gallery, London

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Crystal Palace, 1871, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Old Chelsea Bridge, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts

James Tissot (1836-1902), Captain and Mate 1873,

James Tissot (1836-1902), The Thames, 1876, The Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK

James Tissot (1836-1902) Saint Johns Wood Holiday, 1876, Tate Britain, London, UK

Walter Sickert (1860-1942), New Bedford, 1915-16, The Mercer Art Gallery

You may also like to read:

* Lost New York in Motion Pictures, 1890-1920

* Paris, Motion Pictures and the Age of Impressionism

* Art Loss Register Update - Sources allege the following