Julian Trevelyan was educated at Bedales School and Cambridge University before studying at the Atelier 17 in Paris. His early work was highly experimental with a strong interest in Surrealism. In 1936, together with other members British Surrealist, he helped in the organisation of the International Surrealist Exhibition in London. During World War II he worked as a camouflage officer in the Royal Engineers, here declaring his religion to be Surrealism. After the dissolution of his marriage to the potter Ursula Darwin, he married the painter Mary Fedden, and they settled to work together in his Thames-side studio, Durham Wharf. He taught at Chelsea School of Art, 1950-60, and was engraving tutor at the Royal College of Art, 1955-60. In 1963, Trevelyan was struck down by meningitis with stroke-like symptoms that initially affected his speech and movement, and for a time, he was unable to paint. Along with a group of therapists, Mary worked with him and gradually he regained his abilities. She persuaded him to start drawing again and so began a new phase and style of his work. At first, drawing in children’s coloured crayons, he discovered a new interest in strong colours, and his paintings became bolder and more direct with stronger and more simplified lines. He also brought new energy to etching, setting up the Durham Wharf studio with a printing press and related equipment.

Travel played an important part in Treveyans' recovery and in 1964 they they visited Crete with John Craxton. Crete was followed by their important 1965 trip to Florence that resulted in a flowering of work, including the popular Florence Suite of etchings (1965-66), the large 1965 oil Florence at Night (collection of Durham University) and this painting.