These drawings were made during a time when the affair with Maria Zambaco was at it's height. Morris was engaged on his verse play "Love is Enough" and Burne-Jones was intending to produce illustrations for it, but the co-incidence of title and the period of intensity with Maria was enough to stimulate an extensive collection of drawing of lovers embracing. Some of which contributed to Love Among the Ruins. A number of studies in red chalk were sold in Sotheby's Belgravia 1977 and 1981, including small studies for the above with a Letter L included.