Princess Gouramma (1841-64), sometimes spelled Gowramma, or Gauromma, was the daughter of Chikka Virarajendra, often spelled "Veer Rajunder Wadeer" in the British press, the last ruler of the Kodagu (Coorg) kingdom of Southern India. After her father's deposition from the throne, the Princess was brought to London and baptised in the Chapel at Buckingham Palace on 1 July 1852.  She was given the name 'Victoria', with Queen Victoria as her Sponsor. She had been considered a suitable bride for the Maharaja Duleep Singh whose portrait is also in the Royal Collection (RCIN 403843), but he declined to marry her, as he wanted to marry an English bride. In 1860 she married Lt.Colonel John Campbell.  Queen Victoria also commissioned a sculptural bust of the Princess from Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-67) (RCIN 41535). 

Franz Xaver Winterhalter was born in the Black Forest where he was encouraged to draw at school. In 1818 he went to Freiburg to study under Karl Ludwig Schüler (1785–1852), and then moved to Munich in 1823, where he attended the Academy and studied under Josef Stieler (1781–1858), a fashionable portrait painter. Winterhalter was first brought to the attention of Queen Victoria by Louise, Queen of the Belgians (1812-50) and subsequently painted numerous portraits at the English court from 1842 until his death.

Here the Princess is depicted in Indian dress and rich jewellery, leaning on an Indian table. She is holding a Bible, an allusion to her conversion to Christianity.

Signed and dated: F Winterhalter / 1852.