The source of this miniature is the late, full-face portrait of Henry VIII produced by Holbein for the wall-painting of Henry VIII and his family in the Privy Chamber at Whitehall Palace c. 1536-7. The mural was subsequently destroyed by fire but is known from the copy made by Remigius Van Leemput (Royal Collection; 405750). It is difficult to be certain which of numerous references to miniatures of Henry VIII by Holbein in the early Royal Collection inventories may refer to the present item, and the first certain reference to it can be found in an inventory of c. 1837. Although it has since consistently born an attribution to Holbein, its quality is such as to render this unlikely and it is currently believed to be by one of the minor limners working c. 1540-70 whose work has not yet been recognised and classified.