Although Sandby rarely painted in oils, there are comparable examples from early in his career, including two pictures exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1760, with further exhibits in 1761 and 1766, and again from his last years, circa 1805-9. (See Luke Herrmann, Paul and Thomas Sandby, 1986, pp.23-6, 61). The present picture could possibly date from the mid 1760s, though imaginary scenes, of which this seems to be one, are more characteristic of his late oils.