The son of two well-known Viennese actors, Koberwein studied painting in Paris with Paul Delaroche (1797-1856); he worked in various European capitals before setting in London in 1859. He experimented with processes for colouring photographs and his painted portraiture was greatly influenced by photography. Queen Victoria described Koberwein as ‘such a useful good artist & pleasant person’. Prince Sigismund (1864-6) was Queen Victoria’s grandson, the fourth child of the Queen’s eldest daughter Victoria, Crown Princess of Prussia. He had died of meningitis in June 1866. This posthumous portrait was painted based on photographs taken when the family had visited Queen Victoria in November 1865. Signed and dated: G Koberwein / 1867.