This drawing is one of a group of studies of cloudy skies by Philip Reinagle. Some of the sheets have been numbered by the artist and also feature his notes on the appearance of the clouds.

Having trained with Allan Ramsay, Reinagle began his career as a portraitist. He soon diversified into illustration, landscape and animal painting. The need to depict animals in their natural habitat combined with an interest in Dutch art may have been the motivation behind Reinagle's growing interest in landscape from about 1800 onwards. These studies of clouds were carried out around 1816 and were probably preparatory drawings for paintings such as 'A wood scene with cattle - midday effect' (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1824).

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Philip Reinagle trained with Allan Ramsay and began his career as a portraitist. He soon moved away from this genre, however, and by 1800 he was known as a landscape and animal painter. The exhibition catalogues of the Royal Academy and the British Institution at this time reveal that he continued to paint landscapes, many featuring cattle or sporting scenes, throughout his life and was still exhibiting in 1827. He painted not only English, Scottish and Welsh landscapes but also Italian and Portuguese scenes. The landscape drawings by Reinagle in the Royal Academy collection are mostly British, featuring views of the Lake District, Snowdonia, Surrey and Yorkshire. Reinagle and his son, Ramsay Richard Reinagle, were adept copyists and in addition to painting their own scenes for exhibition they also painted landscapes in the style of the Dutch masters. Both artists generated extra income by producing copies and carrying out restoration work.

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