Joseph Vincent Barber was the second son of Joseph Barber and inherited his father's practice as a drawing master. He was involved with the foundation of all Birmingham's early artists' societies, acting as Secretary to the Academy of Arts and was perceived as a modest and popular man. During his career, Barber completed many watercolours such as this example, depicting Birmingham and its surrounding area. He went to Italy in 1837, after retiring as a drawing master, and died in Rome the following year after contracting malaria.