This selection of sketches forms part of a larger body of preparatory works for the above painting. A further 19 studies have been digitised and are now available to view online as part of the Arts Council England supported Unlocking Collections project.

Amongst the sketches are meticulous observational drawings of flora and fauna, including the plantains, cow parsley and grasses that fill the bottom edge of the canvas. In the sketch shown as part of this grouping, Bateman includes notes on colour:

plantains deep crimson stems

russet seeds

leaves blue green top side

transparent yellow green shade side

grasses all light straw with green grass undergrowth

This attention to detail is applied to each figure, animal, building and tree, with the artist producing numerous detailed studies of individual elements, that would be brought together once in the studio.