Thompson was a painter of figure subjects and portraits who exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours. He lived for most of his career in Hampstead, moving to kent about 1912. Christie's have handled a number of his figure subjects in recent years, most of which have been 'symbolist' in feeling. None, however, has been finer than the present example, which clearly shows him at his best. The subject, mood and blue tonality are reminiscent of E.R. Hughes, who may have been an influence