By 1773 More had moved to Italy, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. He developed a reputation as a very fine landscape painter. After settling in Rome, he enjoyed international acclaim as 'More of Rome', and worked with fellow Scotsman Allan Ramsay. Ramsay was increasingly pursuing his growing antiquarian and archaeological interests and began searching for the lost villa of the great Roman poet Horace. This became his main activity when he returned to Italy again in 1775-7. Ramsay planned to publish a treatise on the villa and asked More to provide illustrations for it. This delightful evocation of the hills near Licenza was one of a number of drawings More produced for Ramsay’s project. The National Galleries of Scotland has other examples, including D 5028, View of Horace's Villa from Licenza.