‘Studies for Meat Porters’ comes from a series of sketches and models made by the artist during visits to Smithfield's Market of men and boys carrying large dismembered carcasses to sell in 1959. The purpose of these studies was to come up with a concept for a new large public sculpture commissioned by Harlow Art Trust which was to be erected in Harlow Market Town Square. Brown won this commission for his work ‘Meat Porters’ which depicts two men carrying a dead ox to market. This commission and surrounding series won Brown critical acclaim with his contemporaries and critics of the time.