There are no entries in Queen Victoria's accounts for this miniature, or for the other miniatures by Schäfer that constitute a set of portraits of the five sons of Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover, and the Electress Sophia (420172-6; Royal Collection). This suggests that Queen Victoria received them as a gift in 1845, the year in which they were painted, and certainly before March 1846, when John Haslem was paid for the first of his enamel copies after the series (421780-5; Royal Collection). This miniature, the first in the series, is a skilfully painted meticulous copy, with a surface that is densely gummed, particularly in the folds of the costume. It was copied by Schäfer from an oil painting in Hanover; the original is no longer recorded. The source appears to be later than 1690, casting some doubt on the identity of the sitter.

Signed on the reverse in pencil (strengthened in ink by a later hand): A. Schäfer / fec. / Hannover / 1845; a piece of paper attached to the reverse is inscribed by the artist in ink: Nach dem Öhlgemälde eines unbekañten Meisters / copirt von A. Schäfer / 1845. A second label attached to the reverse is inscribed in white chalk: Frederick Augustus 1661 – 1690 Slain in battle.