John Phillip’s art was transformed by three visits that he paid to Spain, the first in 1851-2. Queen Victoria recorded in her Journal that she was ‘much pleased with some very clever & talented sketches & studies, of Spanish gipsies at Seville & Ronda’ which she was shown by Sir Edwin Landseer after Phillip’s return from Spain. Soon afterwards she bought this tender celebration of motherhood from Phillip, and gave it to Prince Albert while she was expecting their eighth child. Purchased by Queen Victoria and given to Prince Albert for Christmas in 1852