The sketch was titled The Captive King and it shows the French nobleman Guy de Lusignan held prisoner by Saladin.

The sketch was one of at least three that Wright drew before making two similar paintings concerning the captured crusader.

The sketches were sent to Peter Perez Burdett in Liverpool for his comment in the winter of 1772–73 before Wright created the smaller of the paintings, which was exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1773 with a version of The Blacksmith's Shop.

Wright had hoped to sell a version of The Captive King to Markgraf Karl Friedrich in 1774.

Friedrich was to eventually employ Burdett when he moved to Germany to avoid his debts – including money owed to Wright.