This is a replica by Richard Cosway himself of another miniature, signed and dated 1794 and surrounded with a braid of fair hair, which is now in a private collection.

Princess Sophia Matilda was the niece of George III, daughter of his brother Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Maria, Countess Dowager of Waldegrave. Sophia never married nor had any children. She lived at New Lodge in Winkfield, near Windsor in Berkshire, died on 29 November 1844 and is buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Richard Cosway (1742-1821) was born in Devon, the son of the headmaster of Blundell’s school, Tiverton. The family were prosperous, and owned a woollen business and property. At the age of 12, Richard was sent to London to study drawing under Thomas Hudson at Shipley’s drawing school. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 and exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1770 and 1806. He married Maria Hadfield in 1781, an accomplished artist herself. The couple had one daughter, who died at the age of seven. Richard Cosway's portrait of Maria Fitzherbert attracted the attention of the Prince of Wales who appointed him as his official miniature painter in 1786 and general advisor for the decoration of Carlton House, his residence in London. In 1811, however, Cosway lost the Prince’s favour and his eyesight began to fail. He was an eccentric and outlandish in his behaviour and dress, but was an astute collector and acquired a fine collection of old master drawings. His miniatures are painted with a delicacy and fine modelling, and he developed the technique of using transparent pigments which allows the natural luminosity of the ivory to shine through.