Cromek journeyed to Greece in 1834 which prompted some of his finest watercolours. This work of Mycenae is an excellent example of his style, revealing his freshness of colour as the sun sets over the iconic gateway.

Mycenae was the main city in the flourishing period of Greek history known as the Mycenaean age. From 1600 to 1100 BC Mycenae was the centre of the Greek world before collapsing with the advent of the Dorian invasion. The main gate, called the Lion Gate, was seen by Heinrich Schliemann when he undertook archaeological work on the site in 1876. Seeking truth to Homer's epic poems, and having already excavated Troy, he found a gold mask at Mycenae and claimed to have `gazed upon the face of Agamemnon'.