Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844), a Danish sculptor, lived for 40 years in Italy and was greatly influenced by the ancient classical sculptures that he saw in Rome. Many of his sculptures are classical in style, like the original pair of roundels of 'Night' and 'Day' which he produced in 1815 and 1816. Many copies of Thorvaldsen's roundels were produced, in marble and in plaster, both during his lifetime and subsequently. This plaster example of 'Night' was made long after his death but shows how classical designs remained popular for interior decoration.

The roundel belonged to the firm of George Jackson & Sons, a firm who made decorative plasterwork for interior decoration. The firm, originally founded in 1780 in Rathbone Place, off Oxford Street, London, specialised in plasterwork based on classical designs, particularly those of the 18th-century architect, Robert Adam. Jacksons continued to use these neo-classical designs, either for new commissions or for the restoration of older plasterwork. The firm is now part of Clark & Fenn Ltd.