Like many of his contemporaries (from François Boucher to Charles-Joseph Natoire), Oudry was attracted by the captivating nature of the vast estate of the price de Guise at Arcueil, near Paris, and between 1744 and 1747 he produced a large number of beguiling atmospheric views of its gardens. Drawings from this group are all executed in black chalk with white heightening on blue paper and characterized by a quiet sensitivity which makes them stand out from the views produced by his compatriots.