By the end of the nineteenth century Glasgow was a prosperous and vibrant city. The scenery around the River Clyde presented Glasgow-born Cameron with a rich variety of subject matter for his early works. This print shows a carefully observed view of Greenock’s West Harbour, with the ornate tower of the Town Hall dominating the skyline. Situated on the south bank of the Clyde about 22 miles from Glasgow, Greenock was the site of the first dock on the Clyde and a major port and shipbuilding centre. Probably drawn in reverse directly on the plate from life, Cameron’s meticulous record of the port proves how accurate he was in depicting architecture with the etching needle.