Previously misidentified as Augusta Jones this intimate and tender portrait was made at a time when Burne-Jones was falling in love with the sitter. The profusion of olive leaves indicates his passionate response, as these appear in all his drawings that were of a personal significance. The tablet bearing his initials hints at his gathering interest in Classicism stimulated by her Greek heritage and the drawing dates from the same year that he painted The Lament (William Morris Gallery)
Rossetti letter to Madox Brown 23 January 1869: Poor Ned's affairs have come to a smash altogether, and he and Topsy, after the most dreadful to-do, started for Rome suddenly, leaving the Greek damsel beating up the quarters of all his friends for him and howling like Cassandra. Georgie stayed behind. I hear to-day however that Top and Ned got no further than Dover, Ned being so dreadfully ill that they will probably have to return to London.
In January 1869 his wife Georgina found a letter from Maria in his clothing and Burne-Jones reluctantly ended the affair.