A sunlit view of the Villa Hohenlohe in its garden. The villa was demolished in 1970, but was on the Kapuzinerstrasse, on the outskirts of Baden-Baden, across the Oosbach river.

The villa was originally called Villa Friesenberg, and was bought (with some financial assistance from Queen Victoria) by the Queen's half-sister Princess Feodora of Leningen in the autumn of 1863. In October 1863 Feodora wrote to the Queen that because the situation of her house in Baden-Baden was rather low, she had bought 'a swiss cottage and a garden on a hill, with good air and a lovely view.' In the spring of 1872 Victoria visited Feodora in her 'charming little villa, in the Châlet style, called Villa Friesenberg.' After the Princess's death Victoria took over the house and its contents. Visiting the house in 1876 the Queen described how she went 'to my beloved Feodore's dear little house on the Friesenberg, which I call Villa Hohenlohe, & which belongs to me.'

The landscape painter August Becker was introduced to the Royal Family through his brother, Dr Ernest Becker, who had been Librarian to the Prince Consort and then Treasurer and Private Secretary to Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse. Signed and dated 1877, this is one of a number of works which Queen Victoria commissioned from Becker between 1864 and 1877. Becker was paid on 17 October 1877 £105 12s for 'Two views of Hohenlohe'. The companion piece, a view from the villa, is also in the Royal Collection (RCIN 408971).