Wahl trained with David Hoyer in Leipzig and settled in Hamburg as court painter to the Holstein family. In 1719 he was invited to Copenhagen to work for the Danish Royal family and was appointed court painter in 1737, with responsibility for the royal collection. His portraits are executed in the ‘French-export’ style, seen for example in the work of Antoine Pesne (1683-1757) at the Prussian court.

Princess Charlotte was the daughter of Frederick IV of Denmark and was considered a possible match for Louis XV and Frederick, Prince of Wales. In the event she did not marry, devoting herself rather to improving relations within the Danish court and to charitable works. The Princess is here shown full-length, wearing a gold, floral brocade dress with lace sleeves and pink ribbons, diamonds in her hair, about her waist and neck; a planted urn each side.