The present picture forms part of one of the two original sets of views painted by Pieter Andreas Rysbrack, the eldest brother of the sculptor John Michael, of the gardens at Chiswick - the country seat of Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington (1695-1753). Profoundly influenced by the work of Andrea Palladio, Burlington created something at his 'Villa by the Thames' which was to become the touchstone of Neo-Palladian architecture, his most famous collaboration being that with the painter, interior decorator, architect and landscape gardener, William Kent.

Burlington is thought to have begun his remodelling of the gardens in 1716, the year after he returned from the Grand Tour. While architectural evidence dates Rysbrack's views to circa 1729-31 (supported by one having been engraved by Charles du Bosc in 1731), considerable alterations were still in progress when Jacques Rigaud executed his drawings, 1733-4, although major works seem to have stopped shortly thereafter.

There may originally have been two sets of eight garden views: one to hang at Burlington House, Piccadilly; and the other for Lord Burlington's sister, Lady Bedingfeld. Most of the former set survives at Chatsworth while the latter (of which this is a part) appeared on the London art market in 1952 and was unfortunately broken up. A View towards the rear of the Bagnio from south of the Upper River re-appeared at Sotheby's on 9 March 1988 (lot 59, sold #36,000).