A picture a 8 young girls in an apple orchard oblivious to the scythe which represents the transience of life, and reminds everyone of the reaping of death's harvest. But time is on their side and the music is evocative of youth and promise. His elaborate fabrications were detected and he decided to seek success in London where, although he did find work, he was soon penniless with little hope of immediate success. On the night of 24 August, not yet eighteen years old, he took his own life by swallowing arsenic. The floor of his room was found to be covered with torn up scraps of all his manuscripts.
Music conjures up a total despair.
In the painting the night sky is aflame with thet setting sun as his light goes out. The pastrycook's tray symbolises superfluity. A lady offers a tract. The Hodman's Haven, or drink for thirsty soul's to one of the navvies. In the foreground, at the bottom of the social scale, a group of exceedingly ragged dirty children.