Once again Turner chose his title for general effect rather than to give a specific reference, there being no story about a birdcage in the Decameron. Turner was, in fact, inspired by Thomas Stothard's illustrations to an edition of the book published in 1825; the plate of 'Giornata Seconda' is particularly close with its Watteauesque figures sitting on the grass amidst trees (repr. A. C. Coxhead, Thomas Stothard R.A., 1906, facing p.140). According to C. R. Leslie Turner painted the picture 'in avowed imitation' of Stothard and told him, while actually working on it during one of the Varnishing Days prior to the opening of the 1828 Royal Academy, that 'If I thought he liked my pictures half as well as I like his, I should be satisfied. He is the Giotto [sic: perhaps 'Watteau'] of England'. There is a further link with Watteau in that Turner here illustrates the text from Du Fresnoy that he was later to give to his 'Watteau Painting' (No.334), using white to bring a distant object near. In this case the distant object is based on East Cowes Castle, the subject of a number of sketches on blue paper done during Turner's visit in 1827 (T.B.CCXXVII (a); see Nos.303-6).

The critic of the Literary Gazette for 17 May 1828 recognised Turner's reference to his fellow artists, ancient and modern; referring to Turner's other exhibits that year (see No.321) he begins - On land, as well as on water, Mr Turner is determined not merely to shine, but to blaze and dazzle. Watteau and Stothard, be quiet! Here is much more than you could match.' But he goes on to attack the picture as a 'sketch . .. With respect of the details in this gaudy experiment the less they are inspected the better for the reputation of the artist. The Athenaeum for 21 May attacked it as the ne plus ultra of yellow, and gaudiness, and of corrupt art'. The Times for 6 May, however, after describing another of Turner's exhibits as ‘extremely beautiful and powerful' said of Boccaccio that it displays equal genius and the same fault . . . it is like nothing in nature'.