This painting records the appearance of the Victoria Art Gallery soon after its opening in 1900. It was conceived of as a civic memorial to the long reign of Queen Victoria. The building costs were raised by local people. In 1903, the statue of the Queen was added to the outside of the building, paid for by the women of Bath.
Most of the pictures hanging in the building at that time were on loan. The copy of the Parthenon frieze adorning three walls of the gallery was donated by the architect.