The painting was bought by Thomas Fairbairn, a Manchester industrialist and patron of the Pre-Raphaelites, but he found himself unable to bear looking on the woman's expression day-to-day, so persuaded Hunt to soften it.
The painting was commissioned by Thomas Fairbairn, a Manchester industrialist and patron of the Pre-Raphaelites who later succeeded his father as 2nd Baronet; he paid Hunt 350 guineas. Fairbairn found himself unable to bear looking on the woman's expression day-to-day, so persuaded Hunt to soften it.