Huysmans was an Antwerp painter who settling in London in 1662 and was especially patronised by Charles II’s Queen, Catherine of Braganza.

On 26 August 1664 Samuel Pepys records seeing in the studio of Jacob Huysmans portraits including ‘Mayds of Honour (particularly Mrs Steward in a buff doublet like a solder) as good pictures, I think, as ever I saw’. It seems probable that this was the portrait Pepys saw, though it is not explained why Pepys refers to the unmarried Frances Stewart as ‘Mrs’. It was not unknown at this time for fashionable women to dress in masculine style riding habits, and Frances Stewart is depicted in such an outfit in a miniature by Samuel Cooper (RCIN 420102). However for a woman to be depicted wearing a buff coat in this manner is very unusual.

This portrait was probably intended for Charles II and is recorded at Whitehall during his reign. Charles II was infatuated with the sitter but probably failed to add her to his list of mistresses; in 1667 she eloped with the 3rd Duke of Richmond.