Morris & Company were commissioned to make a series of large tapestries depicting the quest for the Holy Grail for Stanmore Hall, Middlesex, the home of Mr D'Arcy. Burne-Jones painted the designs, and the present watercolour, done in 1893, was for the Arras Tapestry, the part which ran under the dado round the room, depicting deer in a thicket hung about with shields of King Arthur's knights.