Two drawings from the same series of small prophets were sold in these Rooms, 5 July 1988, lot 10, illustrated. These were also from the Vallardi collection and bore two consecutive numbers to the one inscribed on the present drawing: 'G.88' and 'G.89'.
Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Dibliam, a prostitute whom he bought for fifteen silver coins, even though he knew that she would betray him. In the Middle Ages' exegesis this union symbolized that of Iahve and the people of Israel.