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 and then moved to Munich in 1823, where he attended the Academy and studied under Josef Stieler, a fashionable portrait painter. Winterhalter was first brought to the attention of Queen Victoria by the Queen of the Belgians and subsequently painted numerous portraits at the English court from 1842 till his death.

Prince Arthur (1850–1942) was the third son and seventh of the nine children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Here he is depicted sitting on a cushion, holding a soldier doll. Winterhalter painted the portrait during April 1852. On 1 May, the Prince's birthday, his godfather, the Duke of Wellington, visited him and was given a copy of this portrait by the Queen.

Inscribed on the back with the names of the artist and sitter and the date, 1852.