As A. Moore, The Norwich School of Artists 1985, p. 144, observes: '1847 proved to be the annus mirabilis of Middleton's life and career'; several watercolours of this date, and of a similar size to the drawing in this lot, are in the Norwich Castle Museum. The watercolours of Bullingstone, Kent, Alby, Norfolk, and Blofield are all illustrated by Moore, op. cit., pp. 142, 143, and 144 respectively; two further watercolours from this year wre sold at Sotheby's, 16 Mar. 1989, lots 102-3 (repr.) and realised #33,000 and #24,000 respectively