Ruth Herbert was manageress of St James Theatre, London, until 1867.
George Powell, Nanteos, who bought this drawing, made the following comments about the work: 'Pictures of this noblest of artist poets being of such extreme rarity and immense value, it has taken me five years of constant search to find this interesting specimen'. The inscription 'ANNO XXV' refers to the sitter's age. This work is part of the George Powell of Nanteos Bequest given to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in1882