The artist's adoption of red crayon during the mid 1860s was a departure from his previous techniques and this drawing appears to be more tentative, as indicated by the pentimenti and the rubbing out, but he has retained certain methods and adapted techniques from his earlier watercolours, making this drawing experimental and therefore transitional. A three dimensional effect is produced through the highlighting by rubbing back on the sleeves, the darkened effect against her profile in darker tones and the side lighting is cleverly models the face. The inclusion again of olive leaves denote a particular significance for the artist of the sitter.
Rossetti letter to Madox Brown 23 January 1869: Poor Ned's affairs have come to a smash altogether, and he and Topsy, after the most dreadful to-do, started for Rome suddenly, leaving the Greek damsel beating up the quarters of all his friends for him and howling like Cassandra. Georgie stayed behind. I hear to-day however that Top and Ned got no further than Dover, Ned being so dreadfully ill that they will probably have to return to London.
In January 1869 his wife Georgina found a letter from Maria in his clothing and Burne-Jones reluctantly ended the affair.