The picture is one of many executed by DGR in which a woman is pictured
playing a musical instrument. The earliest of these,
The Blue
Bower
Forced Music
Although Surtees questions the validity of the attribution to DGR, the picture is genuine.
The picture was done sometime in mid-1869, for it is one of two—mentioned by
DGR in a letter to Shields—that he sold to Agnew.
“At this moment I hear from London that Agnew has called &
bought 2 chalk drawings I left to be shown to him for 80gns each. If
he will go on, this will furnish some profitable pot-boiling; & I tell you,
as you were the first to suggest a connection with him”
(Correspondence
DGR: An Illustrated Memorial
DGR as Designer and Writer
A Catalogue Raisonné