'The Hill of Venus' tells the story of man named Walter, "who by strange adventure fell into the power of Venus, and who, repenting of his life with her, was fain to return to the world and amend all, but might not; for his repentance was rejected of men, by whomsoever it was accepted". This study is one of thirteen preliminary tracing states for woodblocked engravings (now in the Ashmolean). Walter stands in the left foreground upon the Hill of Venus, looking down towards a medieval town, which is approached by a bridge over a wide river. This design probably illustrates the lines:
'Though from a green hill on further side,
Above the green meads set with poplars slim,
A white wall, buttressed well, made girdle wide
To towers and roofs where yet his kin did bide!'