This drawing had an intimate, personal connection for Burne-Jones since it represented Maria Zambaco, a Greek sculptress living in London, who was the artist's lover from 1868 to 1872. Burne-Jones carefully represented her sensitive features such as her deep-set eyes and delicately arched upper lip. His treatment of her wavy hair, in contrast, was far more sketchy. Burne-Jones often idealized women, and this portrait has an ethereal effect as Maria's head seems almost to float in space.
There is some justification in concluding that the model used was Maria, but as Burne-Jones idealizes facial features, it is difficult not to suggest that there is a possibility that the model was also Jane Alice "Jenny" Morris, who posed on a number of occasions at this time. Stylistically the refined graphite technique and softer shadows would make the date of the drawing c.1874. The intensity of the downward gaze suggests that it was made for the Mirror of Venus and is possibly for the reflection of the fifth girl from the right reversed.