Linnell's diaries show that he started the picture on 23 January 1849 and completed it in May, that year. It is a companion to The Hoppers-Evening (private collection; Linnell, op.cit., no.139), which was also sold by Linnell to Joseph Gillott and passed on by him to William Wethered.

We are grateful to David Linnell for his help in preparing this entry.