A full-scale pencil drawing made on the spot is T.B.XXII-P (No.12). In the catalogue of the Royal Academy exhibition of 1887 this watercolour, then owned by Mrs Winkworth, was identified with that shown at the R.A. 1797 (464) as 'Ely Cathedral, South Trancept’, and the identification has remained. It seems unlikely, however, that Turner would have given such a title to a view which is evidently taken from the arch in the south-west pier of the crossing, looking across under the Octagon to the North Transept and Chancel. The sunlight falls in accordance with this orientation, i.e. from windows in the south wall of the Choir and South Transept. It is therefore reasonable to suppose that this drawing is the ‘Trancept and Choir of Ely Minster' exhibited in 1796, or perhaps a version of it made, like the 'South Trancept’ of 1797, for Dr Yorke, Bishop of Ely. Finberg records that the "Trancept and Choir' was in the possession of R. DurningHolt, Liverpool. This seems certainly to have been at least the same composition as the present drawing, since he describes it (in a MS note, B.M.) as ‘Transept and Choir from under the Crossing. Listening to Sermon'. C. F. Bell describes this same subject under both the 1796 and I797 entries (p.32, No.31 and p.33, No.35), giving R. Chambers, R. Durning Holt as provenance for the first, and Dr Yorke, etc, for the second. It is improbable, however, that Turner would have shown two different versions of the same view in successive years and under different titles.

Farington, having just seen the 1796 drawing and other Turners among works submitted for the exhibition that year, said they 'are very ingenious, but it is a manner'd harmony which He obtains' (Diary, 2 April 1796).