This painting, together with one of the Duchess (RCIN 405451), was commissioned by Frances, Countess Waldegrave to hang in her home, Strawberry Hill, which she had restored and re-opened.

The Duke was the fifth son of King Louis-Philippe of France; he and his Duchess had fled the Revolution in France of 1848 and moved to Orleans House in Twickenham. While he in exile he became a prominent member of English society and he built a library at Orleans House for his collection of books. Disraeli wrote of him: 'Such natural ability, such extreme accomplishment and so princely a mind and bearing'. Queen Victoria described him as 'a most charming, very well-informed, clever, large-minded, and agreeable man'.

Signed in monogram: JS.