The present popular composition is based on Leighton's model, Giuseppe Valona, stretching and yawning. Leighton perfected the pose between 1882 and 1885 and the final life-size bronze was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1886. Smaller scale statuettes, probably cast from a plaster of 1882, were produced by Collie and these tend to be dated 6 May 1889 or 1 May 1990, as in the present example. This foundry went into decline shortly after 1900 when the copyright was sold to Singer of Frome.