The inscription on the reverse of the picture would imply that it was lent for exhibition in France by Coronio The Origin of the idea for the subject is from the story of Cupid and Psyche, one of the stories in Morris's poem The Earthly Paradise c.1867, in which Psyche finds herself inn a meadow surrounded by trees. A study for the figure is in the Tate collections: A00069 The same composition was used for the painting "Hero and Leander" Christie's, London 31 May 2012 lot 15 with alterations to the hands and arms. The background is in a style of a later date possibly painted in the 1880s. Phillip Floral Emblems 1825 has Cuckoo flowers signifying paternal error. Since Burne-Jones uses flowers to indicate an internal message of the painting, it may be that the flowers in this painting, that the maiden is picking, refer to the story of Cupid and Psyche as it was Psyche's father that sent her to be sacrificed and this painting is a first episode from the story.