This painting is based on a similar portrait that was commissioned in 1873 by the Prince and Princess of Wales as a Christmas present for Queen Victoria. The Queen was extremely disappointed with her gift as she illustrates in a letter to her daughter, Princess Victoria, dated 27th December 1873: ‘Young Richmond who used to paint charming portraits a little while ago…. has done an awful picture of Alix (who will never be really well painted) for me which I can’t look at – much less hang up! Is it not dreadful?’ As a result Richmond lost favour with the Queen and she commanded that the picture be put away in storage. In this version Richmond made significant changes to the costume and background. The Prince of Wales was presumably fond of the portrait as it was recorded hanging in his rooms at Buckingham Palace and later at Marlborough House. The son of George Richmond, a portrait painter and watercolourist who belonged to ‘The Ancients’, Sir William Blake Richmond was named after William Blake (1757-1827). He entered Royal Academy schools in 1857, after some coaching from Ruskin. Blake travelled to Italy where he met Leighton and Giovanni Costa and his ambition was to paint big neo –classical scenes. He was a painter, sculptor and medallist, but is best known for his portraits. His sitters included Browning, Darwin, Pater, Gladstone and Bismarck. This portrait, posed against a plain background, is reminiscent of Fantin-Latour.