Louisa, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (1800-31), was the only daughter of Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. In 1817, she married Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who was 17 years older than her. They separated in 1824 and divorced in 1826. After her divorce, she married Baron Alexander von Hanstein. She was the mother of Prince Albert and the aunt of Queen Victoria.

The sitter appears here almost half-length, seated, her right arm on the chair arm, facing the viewer, head turned slightly left; wearing a maroon velvet dress with a high waist and short sleeves with lace ruffs at shoulders. She wears an Order on her breast and holds a green wrap about her arms.

The frame is by William Thomas of Fitzroy Square, an address he occupied from 1823-51.