This is one of the last portraits by Rossetti of his model and mistress Fanny Cornforth. She was born (c. 1835) Sarah Cox in Steyning, Sussex. In 1860 Fanny married Timothy Hughes and became known as Sarah Hughes. Timothy Hughes died in 1872 and Fanny subsequently married John Bernard Schott in November 1879. This, and a chalk drawing of the same size and date but without blouse and ornaments, were the last portraits made of Fanny. Although treated frostily by the Rossetti family, Fanny repaid Rossetti's support by forming a substantial collection of his drawings, most of which were bought by Charles Fairfax Murray; these are now in the Birmingham collection. Fanny died in 1905.