[3] Klumpke was persuaded by a conversation with members of the Douglas Miller family to ask to paint Bonheur.

Klumpke wrote that she "was delighted that Rosa Bonheur had offered of her own accord to pose in women's clothes.

"[8] During the times she posed for Klumpke, the two artists talked about art and literature, told stories, and discussed religion and morality.

[9] Klumpke's work on the painting was also dictated by Bonheur, who wanted the younger artist to follow her suggestions about sketching and artwork.

[10] Maria Tamboukou writes that the interplay of conversation and sittings for the creation of the painting show Bonheur to be "a woman in love" with Klumpke.