The founder of the van Loo dynasty of painters was the Dutchman, Jacob van Loo (1614-70), who was obliged to flee Amsterdam after killing someone in a pub brawl. Having settled in Paris his son, Louis Abraham, and grandsons, Jean-Baptiste and Carle-Andre (1705-65), all made successful careers in France. In addition Jean-Baptise himself had two painter sons, Louis-Michel (1707-71) and Charles-Amedee-Philippe (1719-95). Jean-Baptiste trained as a religious and mythological painter in Italy with Benedetto Luti (1666-1724), before settling in Paris in 1719. He made a brief visit to England from 1737-42, where his success as a portrait painter annoyed Hogarth so much that it provoked him into talking up portraiture himself.

This portraits is listed in the Store of Carlton House in 1816 and 1819, where it is described as 'Portrait of the Princess Amelia - aunt to his Majesty' (in the latter inventory which was completed long after 1819, this entry reads aunt to his late Majesty'). Princess Amelia (1711-1786) was indeed George III's aunt: she was the second daughter of George II, born in Hanover before her grandfather succeeded to the British throne. In later life she lived at Gunnersbury Park and a house in Cavendish Square, London.

The sitter for this portrait can also be identified from an early inscription on the back, which gives the artist as Hudson. This is in fact a version (probably produced in Van Loo's studio) of a portrait executed in 1738 and mentioned by George Vertue as an example of the artist's early success upon his arrival in London. The original portrait (or at least a superior version) was at Sotheby's in London on 4th December 2008 (Lot 11).