Valenciennes’s paintings, methods and theories were fundamental to the development of French landscape painting during the early nineteenth century. He was an ardent advocate of the study of nature in the open air and his preference is evident in this painting where the pink hues of sunset catch the edges of the clouds and the undulating landscape below. Following Valenciennes’s death the contents of his studio and library were sold at 18, quai des Orfèvres, Paris, from Monday 26th April to Thursday 29th April 1819. It is possible that the paintings in The Bowes Museum were originally sold at this sale to the Comte de l’Espine, who had one of the largest collections of paintings by Valenciennes and Achille-Etna Michallon. This painting has a label on the back which reads ‘Vte de L’Espine’ confirming that it comprised part of the Comte de l’Espine’s collection.