This is one of two of sketches of the same view of Geneva (see also 1912P90). This work focuses on the buildings depicted in 1912P90. Although much of the drawing remains unfinished Ruskin has drawn the top sections of three houses in minute detail. The two drawings were originally mounted together and appear to have been exhibited as a pair. Along with 1912P89, they were given to Birmingham by Ruskin's cousin Joan (nee Agnew) and her husband, the artist Arthur Severn. Both visited Italy with Ruskin in the 1870s. A photograph recording one of their trips to Venice is reproduced in 'Ruskin and Tuscany' (exh. cat., Jeanne Clegg and Paul Tuscany, 1993).