The painting came from the estate of the landscape engraver John Pye (1782-1874) which was sold at Christie's on 20 May 1874. Pye, who trained under his father and was later apprenticed to the plate-engraver Tolley, was regarded by J.M.W. Turner as one of the best engravers of his work.

In 1830, at the request of John Sheepshanks, Pye undertook the publication of a series of fine engravings from pictures in the National Gallery. He is perhaps best remembered for his hostility towards the Royal Academy in consequence of its refusal to recognise the claims of engravers to equal treatment with painters and sculptors.