The Prince of Wales (1762-1830) is seen here wearing the star of the Order of the Garter. Between 1781 and 1786, items appear every year in the accounts of the artist, Richard Cosway, listed as 'A Miniature of His Rl Hss ' , the prices rising from 16 to 25 ½ guineas. This miniature may be an example from 1783-4, painted about the time the Prince of Wales reached the age of 21. In 1782, the Prince of Wales changed his hairstyle from the smooth, well-groomed look seen in Sir Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of him in the autumn of 1782 (RCIN 401009) to a wilder, more romantic cut. Lady Spencer described it: 'The Prince dresses his hair in a new way, flattish at sides, frizzed and widish at each side and three curls at the bottom of this frizzing.' The new style can be seen in this portrait. His hairstyle gradually became more and more exaggerated until it was satirised by James Gilray, the caricaturist, in March 1802, after which it became much more restrained.

The artist, 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 foppish in his dress, but collected 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.