This busy riverscape is one of several views by Marlow of the same picturesque site on the River Saône in France. It shows the Castle of Pierre Scize (English travellers referred to it as Pierre Encise) that protected the river entrance to the great commercial city of Lyon. The castle was later destroyed, in 1793, during the French Revolution. Marlow painted these views after undertaking a Grand Tour in Europe 1765-66; at that time Lyon was a major staging point on one of the main overland routes by coach to Italy. Marlow was trained under the English marine and topographical artist Samuel Scott. He was also influenced by the view paintings of Canaletto and his nephew Bernardo Bellotto.