The flight of Madeline and Porphyro during the drunkenness attending the revelry (The Eve of St. Agnes)

This painting shows an episode from the poem 'The Eve of St. Agnes' by John Keats, about the elopement of two lovers. Begun before the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was founded, the picture shows Hunt’s early interest in medievalism, naturalistic detail and moral teaching. Hunt wished to contrast innocent young love with the debauchery of the guests feasting in the castle. This is a small version of Hunt’s first important picture exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1848 and now in the Guildhall Art Gallery, London. It was begun as a preparatory sketch and finished off long after the completion of the main picture.