In 1947 Hepworth was one of six artists invited by London County Council to submit designs for four monumental sculptures situated on Waterloo Bridge. The bridge, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, had been constructed between 1939 and 1944 and provision for the sculptures was made with plinths at either end. Hepworth’s first idea concerned vertical figures clustered together. However, in June 1947, the conditions for the competition were altered and now prescribed 'a low horizontal sculptural treatment'. Hepworth made four small, stone maquettes at a scale of 1:16 (about 21 cm long), of which this is one. Submissions were made by Hepworth, Charles Wheeler, Frank Dobson and Eric Kennington. However, none were accepted and the plinths remain empty to this day.