 The scene was probably inspired by Alexander Pope's satirical poem "The Dunciad".It depicts a scene in a small, dingy attic room where a poet sits at his desk in the dormer and, scratching his head, stares at the papers on the desk before him, evidently looking for inspiration to complete the poem he is writing.Near him sits his wife darning clothes, surprised by the entrance of a milkmaid, who impatiently demands payment of debts.