A watercolour view of the burn between Balmoral and Invercauld, with stags grazing in the foreground and mountains in the distance. Signed (twice) 'J. Giles / 1848' and 'J.Giles'. Inscribed on verso with the title and 'J. Giles Sep. 18th 1848'.

As with RCIN 919622, the date inscribed on the verso of this watercolour may refer to an expedition made by Queen Victoria to this part of the forest, rather than being the date on which the work was painted. Giles painted many views - exterior and interior - of Balmoral Castle and its surrounds for the Queen; indeed, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert decided to purchase the castle (after the death of its previous owner, Sir Robert Gordon, in 1847) having only seen painted views of it by Giles. The artist later assisted James Forbes Beattie, the land surveyor, with the laying-out of the castle's grounds.

The elaborately-finished nature of this watercolour contrasts with earlier and more freely painted works by Giles in the Royal Collection (RCINs 919606-919613), which were executed for Sir Robert Gordon, rather than the Queen. The foreground has been heavily worked by the artist, perhaps with a sponge, to create a variety of texture in the depictions of grass and trees. 

This watercolour was originally mounted in one of the nine Souvenir Albums that Queen Victoria compiled with Prince Albert during their marriage. These albums contained watercolours and drawings documenting their life together and were arranged in chronological order. The albums were dismantled in the early twentieth century and rebound in new volumes both in a different arrangement and with additional items, but a written record of their original contents and arrangement still exists.