The artist was occupied during the later years of the 1860s with three works that appear to interrelate, The Fates, The Hours and Music. They all relate to the passing of time which appears to be a preoccupation at that date. This explains why the studies are often confused as they all contain seated female figures. The instrument she holds was a studio prop that appears in a number of the artist's paintings at the time. The prop is illustrated in The Art Journal Easter Art Annual 1900 p. 30 and appears in The Lament.