Oppenheim's pair of miniatures (421460 and 421110) are based on two narrative genre scenes in oil on canvas by the artist, the leading German Jewish artist of the nineteenth century (Ascott House, Buckinghamshire). The scenes represent a key episode in the establishment of the fortunes of the Rothschild family. Their depiction by Oppenheim, and their replication and dissemination amongst wealthy and influential contacts of the Rothschilds, were intended to emphasise the family's integrity in business dealings and legitimise the source of their wealth.

The Frankfurt banking family's fortunes were underpinned in the early days by their dealings with the Elector William I of Hesse. The Elector's lands were annexed by Napoleon in 1806, but much of his wealth was smuggled out of the electorate and his assets were successfully managed and invested by the Rothschilds to their mutual advantage and eventually safely restored to him. In this miniature, the Elector is seen welcomed to the Rothschilds' family home in the Judengasse, Frankfurt, by Amschel Mayer de Rothschild, the oldest of the five Rothschild brothers, as the Elector's goods are restored to him by the family. On the left, Nathan, James and Salomon Rothschild are in attendance, with, lower left, Carl kneeling next to a chest from which he is removing valuables. The female figure in the background on the right is Guthe Rothschild, mother to the Rothschild brothers.

Rectangular gilt-bronze frame, the reverse engraved with the inscription The Elector of Hesse and Amschel Mayer de Rothschild, / Born 12th June 1773 Married 16th Novr 1796 / to Eva Hanan, Died 6th Dec r 1855. / Salomon Mayer de Rothschild, / Born 9th Septr. 1774 Married 26th Novr. 1800 / to Caroline Stern, Died 27 th July 1855, / Nathan Mayer de Rothschild / Born 16th Sept r 1777, Married 22nd Oct. 1806 / to Hannah Cohen. Died 20th July 1836. / James (Jacob Mayer) de Rothschild / Born 15th May 1792, Married 11th June 1824 / to Betty de Rothschild, Died 15th Nov r. 1868. / Henrietta de Rothschild Born 1791 / Married to Abraham Montefiore Died 19th Feb. 1866 / Carl Mayer de Rothschild, Born 24th April 1788, Married 16th Sept r 1818 / to Adelheid Herz. Died 10th March 1855 / The Sons and Daughter of Mayer Amschel / and Guthe de Rothschild née Schnapper.