Burne-Jones had posed the model as a sleeping figure for the first version of The Garden Court, but this was abandoned. This watercolour relates closely to drawings in the Fitzwilliam collection which had been owned by Charles Shannon. A collection of drawings presented for sale at Sotheby's in 1976 from a descendant of Maria Zambaco, amongst which was a drawing of figures in the same pose suggesting that Maria was drawing in the studio at the same time. It is possible that bearing in mind the flaws in the Fitzwilliam drawings and this large watercolour, this subject was a joint production. It points to the relationship being at times an artistic collaboration, Maria being an aspiring artist and Burne-Jones's enthusiasm in maintaining such a relationship. Georgiana when first married had studied engraving in order to translate her husband's designs, later he consistently encouraged artistic practice in young women, i.e. Violet Manners, Olive Maxse and Frances Graham, to produce work under his guidance. With Maria this artistic element gave an added dimension to their highly charged relationship.