This miniature of Prince Frederick William of Prussia is based on the portrait taken at Balmoral by Wilson on 29 September 1855. It was common to colour early photographs to give them the appearance of a painting. Hand-colouring also helped to bring portraits to life and was also applied to photographs of interiors of Royal residences. An invoice from the artist Faija, dated 2 July 1856, lists a ‘Painted Photograph of His Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia’ at a cost of £6.6.0. Due to the high quality of his work, Faija was employed by the British royal family over the course of many years. Following Prince Albert’s death, he produced many fine posthumous miniatures of the prince for Queen Victoria.