Turner here stepped outside his usual range of subjects to paint a genre interior in the manner of Teniers. In this he was almost certainly inspired by the success of the young David Wilkie, ten years his junior, with his first exhibit at the Royal Academy the year before, 'Village Politicians', also in the Teniers manner. In 1807 Wilkie exhibited ‘The Blind Fiddler' (Tate Gallery; repr. illustrated souvenir David Wilkie, R.A. 1958, pl.5), another interior, and visitors to the exhibition drew the obvious comparisons, some favouring Turner, others Wilkie.

On 8 May Farington recorded that Sir George Beaumont 'sd. Sir John Leicester had told him that He had asked Turner the price of His picture of a Forge. Turner answered that He understood Wilkie was to have 100 guineas for His Blind Fiddler & He should not rate His picture at a less price’. Turner, as his receipt of 9 January 1808 shows, got his price. The painting returned to Turner's possession in 1827 when he bought it back for 140 guineas at the sale following the death of Sir John Leicester, later 1st Lord de Tabley. Apart from ‘London from Greenwich', which also left Turner's possession, this is the only picture in the Turner Bequest to bear a signature; presumably Turner only signed his paintings when he sold them. There are a number of drawings of figures engaged in various indoor activities in the 'Hesperides (I)' sketchbook of c.1805-7, one being used for this picture (T.B.XCIII-22v). A rebate round the edge of the picture shows that it was finished in its frame.