A broad river flows calmly through the foreground, its surface reflecting a hazy sky and the dark silhouettes of trees along the banks. On the far side of the water, clusters of trees rise in loose, irregular forms, their foliage rendered in deep greens and ochres with rapid, textured brushwork. Beyond the trees, the pale, sunlit walls and towers of Windsor Castle emerge in the distance, their outlines softened by atmospheric effects and partially obscured by mist.

The castle sits slightly left of center, its mass anchored against the sky, while the right side of the composition is dominated by taller trees whose branches dissolve into the golden light. A luminous sky stretches overhead, filled with billowing clouds in tones of cream, blue, and grey, painted with sweeping, visible strokes that suggest movement and changing weather. The surface of the painting is animated by loose, expressive brushwork, especially in the sky and foliage, where Turner uses broad sweeps and dabs to evoke atmosphere rather than precise detail.

Hints of yellow and ochre in the castle walls and along the riverbank suggest the warm light of late afternoon or early evening. The composition is balanced horizontally, with the river leading the eye toward the castle and the trees framing the view on either side. Small details, such as the subtle reflections in the water and the delicate gradations of color in the sky, reveal Turner's sensitivity to light and atmosphere. The title identifies the subject as Windsor Castle, seen from the river, and the painting was created by Joseph Mallord William Turner in 1807.