The subject of this painting does not appear to be based on any specific text, but instead suggests a plot and leaves it to the viewer to fill in the narrative details. Stillman worked in mixed media—gouache (watercolor mixed with opaque pigment), gum Arabic (a binding agent), pastel, and chalk. The combination of materials creates a rich surface which looks like oil paint, but with a slightly softer finish. This unusual combination of media was perhaps her way of traversing the gender gap in the Victorian art world.

 

百度翻译：http://fanyi.baidu.com

赏析：女人在窗边刺绣，一只白鸽带着情书飞了进来。鸽子和女人胸口的红玫瑰，窗边的常青藤，有刺绣图案“蒙着眼的丘比特”都可联系到爱与美之神维纳斯，不但是情比金坚的象征，还预示了爱是双刃剑，能同时带来甜美和造成伤害。窗外风景以罗马的鲍格才别墅（Villa Borghese）为原型。