Le Sidaner was fascinated by the image of the vast bulk of St. Paul’s dome seemingly floating above the city of London. Although he was greatly influenced by Monet’s painting, Le Sidaner rarely worked in the open air like the Impressionists, preferring instead, as with this picture, to elaborate on small sketches and enlarge them onto canvas in the studio. Le Sidaner was always more interested in producing a mood than in truth to nature.