Carte-de-vistie three quarter length studio portrait of Maria Caroline, Archduchess Rainer of Austria. The subject is shown in three quarter view, facing towards the left of the image. On the left hand side of the scene is a wooden writing desk. The Archduchess' hair is elaborately arranged in plaits and a chignon, decorated with a black ribbon. She is wearing a highly decorated dress with a bustle, featuring a white ruffled yoke and fan cuffs. The main bodice and sleeves of the dress feature a black lace overlay, decorated with stripes and polka dots.

Archduchess Maria Caroline was born in Vienna as the second daughter and sixth child of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg.

In 1852, Maria Caroline married her cousin Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria. The marriage was a very happy one and the couple was probably the most popular amongst the Habsburg family. The marriage remained childless.