Jean-Baptiste Clésinger (1814-1883), the son of a sculptor, had a tumultuous early career, travelling between his hometown Besanon, Switzerland and Paris, anxious for success. His initial recognition at the Paris Salon came in the year 1847, the same year he married Solange-Gabrielle Dudevant, daughter of George Sand. Following the collapse of his marriage in 1852 and negative criticism of a state-commissioned equestrian group of Francois I, Clésinger moved to Rome. After a long absence from the Paris school he sent eight marbles to the Salon of 1859.
The present figure is similar in format to the earlier marble "Zingara" (1859), although Clésinger has moved away from the 18th Century psyiognomy and body type. A bronze of this subject was exhibited at the Salon of 1877.