Vernet was enormously successful during his lifetime, and his style and subjects inspired a huge number of imitators. He went to Rome in 1734, where his encounter with the work of Salvator Rosa was to prove influential in the development of his style. Living in the area of the Piazza di Spagna, a part of Rome teeming with foreign artists and patrons, undoubtedly helped to spread his reputation across Europe. This small work demonstrates the artist's facility in depicting a range of dramatic weather conditions. He also included the types of figures that heightened what could be called the 'Romantic' appeal of his paintings, with a variety of shipping which show the effects of the weather. A rock massif in the background is the foundation for a tower, on which a flag flies; in the far right, a tall bridge spans a narrow valley.