Possibly, by analogy with William Blake, 'Satan in his Original Glory: Thou wast perfect till iniquity was found in thee' (Ezekiel, xxviii, 14-15; see Martin Butlin, The Paintings and Drawings of William Blake, 1981, p. 350 no. 469) or the Miltonic Satan of Paradise Lost. Fuseli has tried out two positions for the figure's left arm on both the recto and the verso (where it is, of course, the figure's right arm).

The pencil head on the verso is a version (perhaps the first sketch) of the head inscribed 'S.H. [Somerset House]. July - 16.', lot p. 12a, q.v.