The painting featured is the portrayal of a scene from Sir Thomas Malorys Le Morte d’Arthur, the Death of Arthur, one of the first books to be published in England, 1485. Sir Thomas rearranged, reinterpreted, and modified a wide variety of Grail legends from France and England. His version is the most well known of the Grail legends. 

The scene shows Perceval being tempted with things of the flesh. A beautiful woman, delicious wine and food. The woman flirts with Perceval, flatters him, confuses him, all the while as a ruse hoping to keep him from attaining the Holy Grail. Young Perceval realizes the danger posed by the ‘predatory woman’ and takes his leave only to discover that she was Satan in disguise. 

The main emphasis is on religion, Christianity and the church. None of the Knights of the Round Table live up to the high standard of purity required to achieve the Grail. It is only when Sir Galahad, son of Lancelot and the Grail Maiden enters the picture that the Grail is discovered. Galahad is described as ‘a Virgin wielding the power of God’, the ideal knight untainted by a woman.

Arthur Hacker 1894