The figure represents Mrs Dalrymple, dressed in one of the loose flowing gowns which the Pattle sisters favoured. The shield bears the Dalrymple crest, a rock proper.
Burne-Jones has signed the drawing at the bottom left with a stylised flower made from his initials EB J. The easy relationship between Burne-Jones and the members of the Little Holland House circle is likely to have prompted the references in the drawing of apples swallows and staves of music.