In 1861 the architect John Pollard Seddon (1827-1906) commissioned Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. to produce ten decorative panels, depicting the Fine and Applied Arts, for an oak cabinet of his own design (now at the V&A). On Brown's suggestion the four door panels were decorated with scenes from the honeymoon of the medieval King René of Anjou, an enthusiastic patron of the arts, whose life had been popularised by Sir Walter Scott in his novel 'Anne of Geierstein' (1829) (John P. Seddon, King René's Honeymoon Cabinet, London, 1898, p.6). This is a study for 'Gardening,' one of four smaller decorative panels. The model may well have been Fanny Cornforth. In addition to designing this panel Rossetti also designed 'Music.' Burne-Jones designed 'Painting' and 'Sculpture' and Brown designed 'Architecture.' The cabinet was made by the furniture firm owned by Seddon's father and exhibited at the 1862 International Exhibition in London. 'Gardening was also used as a tile design by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co.

• Purchased and presented by subscribers, 1903.
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