A large number of studies of men on horseback were made in the early 1890s in association with the Holy Grail tapestries to be woven at Merton Abbey. Burne-Jones, faced with such a large project including a large number of figures, at first drew them in many and variant poses before settling on a specific composition. The present drawings do not appear in the final tapestries and there are other similar drawings one of which was offered for sale at Christie's London (Christie, Manson and Woods) 3 August 1976 lot 67. The reference to Sir Galahad inscribed verso is incorrect.