This drawing was not know to John Hayes when he compiled his catalogue raisonné but in a letter to Ian G. Lumsden, author of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery catalogue he dates this watercolour to the late 1770s and comments on the 'great vigour' of the drawing. Stylistically and in respect of the sheet size and the medium, this drawing relates to two of the eight drawings given by Gainsborough to Earl Spencer of Althrop (Hayes no. 389, cat. 17, and no. 390)