The drawing room is conceived in the French-Grecian Style introduced by the Prince Regent at Carlton House. The frame panelled and richly mirrored walls and the elements derived from James Stuart's Antiquities of Athens (1762-95), such as the wreathed cornice and accroteria enriched pelmets and chandelier inspired by the temples of Thrasyllus and Lysicrates, are characteristic of this style. As well as Grecian tripod-candelabra, the room is furnished in the fashionable style with a Grecian-sofa and its writing table set out from the fireplace. The accompanying sofas, with griffin-monopodia arms, correspond to a pair now in the Royal Collection.
Robert Hughes, together with his associate Nicholas Morel of Great Marlborough Street, formed one of the many Regency upholstery and cabinet-making firms supplying furniture and fittings to the Prince Regent whom they served from 1819 to 1826 when the partnership ended. They also received commissions from the Duke of Cambridge, so there is the possibility that this drawing and the sofas were executed for the Duke's London mansion. A suite of related furniture (now at Syon House, Middlesex, see lot 3) was amongst the furnishings that he supplied in conjunction with his partner Nicholas Morel to the 3rd Duke of Northumberland in the early 1820s and for which he received praise in R. Ackermann's, Repository of Arts, 1825, pl.17, (see G. Beard, English Furniture Makers, Leeds, 1986, pp.622-625).