Carl Rudolph was the son of Carl Ferdinand Sohn (1805-1867); the father was known to Queen Victoria through his portrait of the Queen of Hanover (RCIN 405078); the son was employed by members of the Royal Family 1882-6.

This portrait was painted before Princess Helen married Leopold, Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria's youngest son, in April 1882. The Queen was pleased with Sohn's painting which she described as 'vy. like & vy fine. He is, after Angeli, one of the best Portrait Painters I know'.

Signed and dated: [So]hn jnor. / Ddorf. 8[2]. Inscribed on the back with the names of the artist and sitter and the date, 1882.