Romney's brother James, born the same year as the artist, became a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Honourable East India Company's Service. The painting seems to have been one of several executed about the same time in which Romney explored the effects of candlelight, and these pictures fall within a tradition of such subjects in 18th century England, inspired by the 17th century Dutch masters Honthorst, Terbruggen, and Godfried Schalken. Mercier, Frye, and even Reynolds made essays in the genre, which reached its climax in the work of Wright of Derby.

Provenance

Miss Romney; Christie's, 1894; Wallis; James Sedelmeyer, Paris; French private colllection.