On a visit to the abbey in 1910, Redon accepted a commission from Fayet to create decorative panels for his library at the site, with no restriction on the subjects.
Two veiled, nearly full-length figures are Fayet's wife and daughter, while portraits in black of Fayet, his sons, Camille, and a number of musicians (including Robert Schumann) find their way into the scene as disembodied apparitions.