Princess Elizabeth (1864-1918) was one of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters and she was staying at Balmoral with her sister Princess Victoria in the summer of 1880 when this portrait was painted. Queen Victoria enjoyed their company – she wrote: ‘The dear girls are a g.t pleasure ... Victoria is very clever – & excessively determined and downright yet most amiable. Ella is so lovely, & so very sweet & attentive – so affectionate & gentle’. Signed and dated: H. Schmiechen / 1880. Inscribed on the back with the names of the artist and sitter and the date, 1880.