A watercolour showing a scene from Shakespeare's King John, Act III, scene i; John refuses allegiance to the Pope in the Tent of the French King. The production shown is that mounted by Charles Kean, which was performed for the Royal Household at Windsor Castle on 6 February 1852 before transferring to the Princess's Theatre, where it opened on 8 February. Queen Victoria and her family so enjoyed the performance that they returned to see it at the theatre on a number of subsequent occasions.

This watercolour was commissioned by Prince Albert, who presented it to Queen Victoria on his birthday, 26 August 1852. Corbould was paid 120 guineas for the work on 10ruary 1853, justifying the high price with reference to the time and effort it had taken him to arrange sittings with the actors.

This watercolour is mounted in the Theatrical Album, a blue morocco album presented to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, into which the queen pasted theatrical watercolours, drawings and photographs until 1861. A small number of further items have been added at the back of the album. Queen Victoria greatly valued the album, of which she wrote to her daughter Victoria 'has been so much admired. I take the g[rea]test. care of it, & do not let it out of my Hands'.