In style and treatment this landscape is close both to the Bonneville pictures exhibited in 1803 (see No. 74) and to ‘The Goddess of Discord choosing the Apple of Contention in the Garden of the Hesperides' shown at the British Institution in 1806 (Tate Gallery 477), particularly the former. It is based on a watercolour sketch in the 'Studies for Pictures: Isleworth' sketchbook (T.B.XC-29v, repr. Reynolds 1969, pl.50, and, in colour, Wilkinson 1974, p. 108; see No.94), which has

Turner's name and Isleworth address inside the front cover: 'J. M. W. Turner, Sion Ferry House, Isleworth'.

Turner used this address in a letter to Colt Hoare of 23 November 1805 and other notes inside the front cover of the sketchbook are dated 1804, so Turner may have had a pied-à-terre on the Thames in what was then outside London as early as 1804. Very little is known of what works Turner exhibited in his own gallery in the first two years it was open, 1804 and 1805, and it is quite likely that this could have been included.

This is the first of a large number of pictures showing places in and around Windsor (see Nos.139 and 156) but is distinguished from later examples by the way in which the vagaries of the site are submitted to the strict discipline of a classical landscape composition.