Shortly after his marriage, Hunt returned to the poem in 1866, when he began to paint several erotically charged subjects. His sensuous painting Il Dolce Far Niente (roughly translated: the sweetness of doing nothing) had sold quickly, and he conceived the idea for a new work depicting Isabella.
Shortly after his marriage, Hunt revisited the poem in 1866, when he started to create sensual paintings. His painting Il Dolce Far Niente (meaning 'the sweetness of doing nothing') was successful, and he conceived the idea for a new work depicting Isabella.