Frederic, Lord Leighton was one of the most significant, successful and influential artists of the High Victorian art establishment. He studied on the continent including in Frankfurt, Paris, Rome and Florence as a young man, before establishing himself in London where he made a sensational debut at the Royal Academy in 1855 with Cimabue's Celebrated Madonna Carried in Procession (RCIN 401478). In 1864 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy, becoming a Member in 1868 and President in 1878, Leighton was an honorary member of many European Academies. He visited Spain, North Africa the Near East several times, which influenced the development of his artistic ideas, although his cheif inspirations remained Hellenic and Renaissance art. He was admired for his skillfull technique, rich use of colour and masterly handling of drapery, as well as for his ability to capture the Victorian ideals of an imagined past. He was knighted in 1878, made a baronet in 1886, and a Baron (Lord Leighton of Stretton) in 1896.

It is possible that this painting and its pair (RCIN 405834) were painted while Leighton was studying in Italy as a young man. Both are remarkably freely executed in oils.