A study for the figure of Demophoön in the watercolour Phyllis and Demophoön (Birmingham City Art Gallery), exhibited at the Old Water-Colour Society in 1870. The nude male figure caused offence and Burne-Jones was asked to withdraw the picture, leading to his resignation. However, the picture was bought by the shipowner F.R. Leyland, and formed part of the famous 'aesthetic' interior he was to create at 49 Prince's Gate.

A larger oil version, entitled The Tree of Forgiveness (Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight), was painted 1881-2, but the present study is undoubtedly for the early watercolour