The design shows Love as described by Dante in the last line of Divina Commedia: "L'Amor che muove il sole E L'altre stelle". Dante was by far the most important influence of Rossetti's career, and Burne-Jones was reading him by 1856. The present design is closely related to a composition by Rossetti, probably made in 1859, connected with the decoration of a settle at William Morriss's Red house (Surtees Cat No. 117A pl. 181). Both designs introduce the sun and moon and show Love with bow and arrow although Burne-Jones has him playing a psaltery, Rossetti holding a sun dial.