the watercolour was thought to be damaged beyond repair, and remained in burne-jones' studio for 5 years, turned against the wall. at the suggestion of the owner and his former assistant charles fairfax murray, burne-jones was eventually persuaded in 1898 by to attempt a restoration, using ox gall to remove the egg white and then repainting the damaged head of the woman. the restoration was completed in may 1898, just a few weeks before his death in june 1898.