This drawing probably dates to the 1890s, and exemplifies Burne-Jones's broader late drawing style. The sitter has not been firmly identified, although William Waters has suggested that the same model appears as the Angel in Lancelot and the Chapel of the Holy Grail (1896, Southampton City Art Gallery). It does not appear to be a study for a painting, but an independent drawing, suggested by the unusual use of handmade paper, which has been prepared with a white tone to increase the contrast of the head.