This attractive fluid study is a typical production from the late 19^th century by one of those English artists clearly involved in the late phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Inspiration for this type of subject inevitably leads back to Edward Burne-Jones.But more specifically our artist here shows himself to have been well aware of those later leaders of that movement –J.W.Waterhouse, E.J Poynter and Frank Dicksee.

The model however is well-known.The features are recognisably those of the Italian Alessandro Di Marco.With his striking appearance, he appealed to, and was used by all those artists who were giving their pictures a setting in either the classical or the Renaissance world.Our artist has used Di Marco to give us a knight in armour, whose expression is shot through with typical late romantic yearning. In this the figure was probably intended to be a participant in one of those dream-like pictures, set in Arthurian times, which were so beloved of the Pre-Raphaelite painters.