Although the present drawing is not dated comparisons can be made to another drawing by Middleton sold Christie's, London, 21 November 2002, lot 40 which was dated 1847. Andrew Moore observes in The Norwich School of Artists, Norfolk, 1985, p. 144, that '1847 proved to be the annus mirabilis of Middleton's career' as it was the first year in which he exhibited at the Royal Academy.