The distinctive marble panel was part of a suite of commissioned works for the celebrated Music Room of Henry G. Marquand mansion located at East 68^th Street in Manhattan. Designed by the famed architect, Richard Morris Hunt, the decoration of the salon and other rooms was largely helmed by renowned the renowned artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, O.M., R.A. (d. 1912). However, it is believed that Benlliure was referred to Marquand by English artist George Henry Boughton (d. 1905) who formed an informal advisory committee with other artists for the interiors of the mansion. Together with Benlliure’s Bacanal and Carrera de cuadrigas reliefs, the trio formed the upper border of an alcove enclosing a large seated figure of Poetry. The room itself was anchored by Alma-Tadema’s highly important concert Steinway piano, sold Christie's, London, 7 November 1997, lot 86, which was part of an extraordinary twenty-nine piece furniture commission.

Marquand, a founder and director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, granted Alma-Tadema a limitless budget to decorate his music salon. The Dutch born Alma-Tadema arrived in London in 1870 and soon established himself as one of its most fashionable artists. A classicist and student of ancient architecture he was acclaimed for the luxuriant detail he devoted to depicting scenes of classical life. Extending this knowledge to interior decoration Alma-Tadema fused Grecian and Roman elements rendering a unique 'Pompeian' style for Marquand's Music Room.