Edward Poynter was born in Paris, his father an architect and landscape painter. Following in his father's footsteps the young Poynter started his career by painting landscapes. Poynter was soon persuaded to paint figural compositions after meeting and becoming friends with a host of Victorian classical painters that were working at the time.

After a stint of studying abroad, he would begin his figure studies by painting clothing and drapery and then moving to the human form. Like the rest of the Victorian Classicists Poynter's works often depict mythological and allegorical subject matter. Young waif- like girls, like those seen in the works of Waterhouse, Draper, and the Pre-Raphaelite's, served as models. The thin, pale adolescent model of this period demonstrates the change in the aesthetic concept of beauty and the ideal female form. Poynter was a superb teacher and lecturer, and in 1896 he would be elected to the post of President of the Royal Academy of England. Along with painting Poynter also produced book illustrations, stained glass designs, cabinet panel designs, mosaics, frescoes, ceramics, and engraving.