The setting for this scene of rural life is the countryside south-east of Rome near Castel Gandolfo, overlooking Lake Albano. The German artist Oswald Achenbach exhibited at all the major exhibitions around Europe during his long career, although he was still relatively unknown when Prince Albert purchased this and its pair (no. 61) from the German Gallery in London.

Purchased by Prince Albert and presented to Queen Victoria at Christmas 1854

No. 60