Marianne Preindlsberger Stokes, 1855-1927, was born in southern Austria and studied in Munich and France, where she worked under Colin and Courtois. She worked in the provinces as well as in Paris, and, like many young artists, was influenced by the rustic naturalists led by Bastien-Lepage. She adopted methods like theirs, and even though her subject matter gradually changed from rustic genre to medieval romance and biblical themes, her style continued to show her artistic allegiance clearly. Marianne Stokes was one of the most popular artists of the Victorian era.