The original cartoon for this figure was drawn by William Morris in 1868 for the East Window of St. John's Church, Dalton, Yorkshire. The winged version (Catalogue number WM40) was further used by the company in other ecclesiastical commissions, whilst the unwinged version (Catalogue number WM46) appeared in a number of secular commissions including Thornbridge Hall, Great Longstone, Derbyshire (1876). A scaled down version of the subject was used by May Morris in an embroidered panel, presently in a private collection.
The present example has had parts of the lower border removed, presumably in order to accommodate a particular opening.

We are grateful to Peter Cormack of the William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, for his help in preparing these catalogue entries.