Antoine Pesne was a French-born Rococo painter of historical subjects and portraits. His finest works exhibit masterly brushwork and brilliant colouring, accompanied by a perceptive characterization of his sitters. From the 1740s onwards Pesne was in the service of Frederick II of Prussia (‘the Great’) a renowned  patron of the arts, producing decorative schemes for Schloss Charlottenborg and Sansouci.

This portrait is first recorded in the collection as a 'whole length of a young Prussian Prince caressing a Dog, 5ft 8in x 3ft 1in'. The 19th-Century label on the frame assumes from this that the Prince in question is Frederick 'the Great' (1712-86), which would date the portrait to c. 1717 (assuming he is roughly 5 years old). It is also possible that this is Prince Augustus William (1722-58) or Prince Henry (1726-1802), younger sons of King Frederick William II and better loved than his heir. This would date the portrait to around 1730, which would suit the style and costume rather better.

The infant Prince, full-length, standing, almost in profile to the left, his head turned half to the left, resting his right hand on the head of a hound seated on a cushion behind him and holding a glove and his tricorne hat in his left hand.