The subject was taken from the story of Sir Tristram and La Belle Iseult as told by Malory in the 'Morte d'Arthur.' The design was originally conceived in September 1862 for a stained glass window produced by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. The window was one of thirteen illustrating the story for the entrance hall of Harden Grange, near Bingley, the home of Walter Dunlop, a Bradford merchant. In 1863 Brown used the composition for a watercolour and in 1864 he produced this version in oil for George Rae.
LM