The Banks of the River Doon depicts the river that flows through Ayrshire in south-west Scotland, rising in the hills of the Southern Uplands before winding westward to the Firth of Clyde near the town of Ayr; a setting long associated with Scottish cultural history and particularly with the poetry of Robert Burns, whose works frequently reference the river and its surrounding countryside. Alfred de Breanski travelled extensively through Scotland in search of dramatic Highland and Lowland scenery, producing large-scale landscapes that emphasised the character of remote valleys, rivers and mountain passes. The River Doon formed part of this wider exploration of Scottish subjects during the late nineteenth century, when Breanski developed a reputation for expansive views of rugged terrain and atmospheric light.