This drawing dates from c 1869 and originating from Syria, the model held an interest for the artist, as from an early age he had been fascinated by the Discoveries at Ninevah of 1851 by Layard who deals at length with the Nestorian religion. In painting King Cophetua and the Beggar maid, Burne-Jones was recalling his childhood interests and the Priest who had called on him in the 1860s, which gave him a lasting fascination.