This view of Bath from the southeast by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck shows the distant city from the hills above the River Avon. Beneath the view is a brief history of the city to 1734.
Though the Bucks did not have the word picnic, they embellished with shepherds and sightseers to the foreground, a lively group drinking wine and dancing. This is a subject that Turner frequently used to animate his picturesque landscapes.
Featured Image: Samuel and Nathaniel Buck. Detail: Southeast Prospect of the City of Bath (1734), engraving; http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?obj=12704