Giovan Battista Amendola (1848-1887) studied in Naples under Angelini and Solari. He subsequently moved to Rome and Paris and in 1879 to England, where he remained until 1884. He exhibited regularly in Naples and at the Royal Academy from 1879 to 1886. Through his close relationship with Alma Tadema, Amendola met Frederic Leighton and swiftly became one of his protégés. There are no records of a portrait of Leighton by Amendola, but the original model of the present group may well have been created on the instigaton of Leighton. The subject matter is taken from Leighton's painting Wedded, executed circa 1881-2, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1882 and acquired that year by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney.

A bronze version was sold in these rooms 15th July, 1993, lot 241