Sir William Elford was a lawyer, banker, politician and collector as well as amateur artist. He was in the habit of exhibiting his work at the Royal Academy (this work may the 'Landscape' shown there in 1819, no. 176) and presenting it examples to institutions and distinguished collectors: an inscription of this back of this canvas reports that it was presented to George IV in August 1819. This kind of background information would usually introduce a work of far less quality that this landscape, with its fresh and subtle observation of the effect of a rainy Devon day. The light and effect of moist air is rendered with a precise and professional-looking technique. The motif cannot be confidently identified but may be near Sheepstor.