Roethlisberger has proposed a date in the mid-1630s for this riverine view on the basis of its subject matter and technique. At the time Claude had not yet fully embraced the classical subject matter which preoccupied him for most of his artistic career. He was still working in a pen and wash style reminiscent of his Flemish predecessors in Rome such as Bartholomeus Breenbergh. The drawing was later extended with the addition of the sky and is made up at lower right. Roethlisberger reproduces the sheet without the later additions, which likely were carried out when the sheet was mounted, presumably by Richardson as the additions regularized the sheet around which he placed his gold border.
Inscribed "C.G." at lower left corner, alongside Richardson's and Bouverie's marks (possibly a monogram, according to Roethlisberger; see also III, 78).
Richardson, Jonathan, 1665-1745, former owner.
Bouverie, Edward, 1767-1858, former owner.
Haden, Francis Seymour, 1818-1910, former owner.
Heseltine, J. P. (John Postle), 1843-1929, former owner.
David, Villiers, former owner.
Thaw, Eugene Victor, former owner.
Thaw, Clare, former owner.
Thaw Catalogue Raisonné, 2017, no. 235, repr.
Stampfle, Felice, and Cara D. Denison. Drawings from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1975, no. 15, repr.
Roethlisberger, Marcel, Claude Lorrain. The Drawings, 1968, no. 106.