In this miniature portrait of Princess Amelia aged seven, the artist has finished the head only, lightly sketching in the background. Princess Amelia had her portrait painted holding a bunch of roses when she was six years old by Sir Thomas Lawrence (RCIN 400936) in 1789. This miniature shows her in a similar pose but without the roses. Her right hand has been sketched in, and a locket is suggested around her neck. The transparent watercolour washes applied over the ivory with great technical skill, create a delicate sense of movement.

Princess Amelia (1783-1810) was the youngest daughter of George III. The six daughters in the family lived secluded lives and their parents were reluctant to allow them to marry. Princess Amelia, the King's favourite daughter, suffered from poor health and from the age of 15 it became clear that she had tuberculosis. In 1801, she was sent to Weymouth for her health where Colonel Charles Fitzroy (1762–1831), second son of Lord Southampton, accompanied her. She hoped to marry him and told her brother, the Duke of York, that she considered herself married, and took to using the initials A. F. R. (Amelia FitzRoy). She died in 1810 and news of her death seems to have contributed to the final collapse of her father's health.

Richard Cosway (1742-1821) was born in Devon, the son of the headmaster of Blundell's school, Tiverton. The family were prosperous, and owned a woollen business and property. At the age of 12, Richard was sent to London to study drawing under Thomas Hudson at Shipley's drawing school. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 and exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1770 and 1806. He married Maria Hadfield in 1781, an accomplished artist herself. The couple had one daughter, who died at the age of seven. Richard Cosway's portrait of Maria Fitzherbert attracted the attention of the Prince of Wales who appointed him as his official miniature painter in 1786 and general advisor for the decoration of Carlton House, his residence in London. In 1811, however, Cosway lost the Prince's favour and his eyesight began to fail. He was an eccentric and outlandish in his behaviour and dress, but was an astute collector and acquired a fine collection of old master drawings. His miniatures are painted with a delicacy and fine modelling, and he developed the technique of using transparent pigments which allows the natural luminosity of the ivory to shine through.

Inscribed, perhaps by the artist, on part of the card on which the ivory was originally laid: H.R.H. Princess Amelia Rd Cosway.

Catalogue entry adapted from George III and Queen Charlotte: Patronage, Collecting and Court Taste (2004