This loosely painted oil landscape depicts a shepherd holding a crook, driving his flock of sheep and goats along a winding country lane. On the right is a small hillock, to the left of the composition, a fence and a group of buildings partially hidden by a grassy bank.

The painting was presented to Queen Victoria on her birthday (24 May 1884), by her son-in-law, the Crown Prince of Germany. She describes the occasion, which she spent at Balmoral, in her journal, but does not specifically make reference to this work. The queen wrote of the morning's events, ‘in order that it should be quite different [from the previous birthdays spent with her late husband] my birthday table was placed in dear Albert's room. I received many pretty things, & many dear sad souvenirs.’