Finberg conjectures that the subject is a scene from a play, possibly The Merchant of Venice. The interior of a theatre, which appears unquestionably in CCLXVIII-18 and less certainly in CCCXVIII-4 (No.566), both executed on the same brown paper as is this drawing, suggest that Turner may well have recorded his impressions of a play in this series. f.17 of this group appears to show a theatrical scene - Finberg suggests the murder of Desdemona by Othello; but the nudity of the figure on the bed is perhaps not consistent with such an interpretation. f.12 (No.564), may also record a scene from a play; and f.22, described as a 'Canal Scene', with its illuminated archway, may possibly show some place of entertainment connected with the theatre, or with the firework display shown in f.io (No.563).

In 1837 Turner showed at the Academy an oil painting called 'Scene - a Street in Venice' with a brief quotation from The Merchant of Venice (Huntington Library and Art Museum, San Marino).