This is an original costume design for Frederick Ashton's ballet Picnic at Tintagel, produced by New York City Ballet in 1952. The ballet used music by the English composer Arnold Bax (including his eponymous tone poem, Tintagel). Adams was a leading dancer at the New York City Ballet in the 1950s and 1960s and a favourite of George Balanchine. The production was known for its many costume changes, requiring the dancers to change from Edwardian to Medieval clothes. Beaton designed the Edwardian outer-garments to help conceal the Medieval costumes underneath.