Honthorst was a Dutch painter born and trained in Utrecht. His early career was spent in Rome, where he attained great success as a follower of Caravaggio. In 1620 he returned to Utrecht and largely abandoned religious themes in favour of Arcadian and domestic subjects and portraits. During this period Honthorst received a number of commissions from the exiled Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, sister of Charles I and through these became known to the English King. In 1628 he was invited to the English court and there painted a number of portraits of the Charles I and his Queen, as well as several leading courtiers.

This group portrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham and his family was painted in the same year that the Duke was assassinated. Charles I's closest confidant and a powerful figure at court; the Duke was a lavish collector and patron of foreign artists including Peter Paul Rubens and the painter of this work, Gerrit van Honthorst. In this painting, the Duke of Buckingham proudly presents his wife and children. The Duchess is placed centrally, in front of a rose bush, and smiles at the viewer. Her baby son (George, later second Duke) grasps at flowers presented by his sister, Mary Villiers (later Duchess of Richmond). The arrangement of mother and children is probably intended to recall images of the Virgin Mary, Christ Child and infant St John the Baptist. The scene is painted with a quality of cheerful Dutch informality rarely seen subsequently.

The painting may have been commissioned by Charles I or perhaps acquired by him following the assassination of the Duke in August 1628. It was immediately popular and quickly became a standard type which was much copied.