One of the set of miniatures of the Portuguese Royal Family painted by Sir William Ross for Queen Victoria in Lisbon during the autumn of 1852 and a pair with his miniature of Ferdinand II, King Consort of Portugal (420386).The miniature of Queen Maria was believed by her consort, Ferdinand II, to be particularly good (RA VIC/M 49/30). Copies by William Essex and Guglielmo Faija (421694 and 4801 respectively) are in the Royal Collection.

Maria II was notoriously stout even as a young woman, and whilst Ross suggests this through the sitter's slack jaw and heavy neckline, he captures in her portrait some of the finer qualities, the 'exquisite complexion … good nose and fine hair' for which she was admired (RA QVJ: 6 February 1836). She died the year after Ross's miniature was painted, while giving birth to her eleventh child.

Signed, dated and inscribed on the reverse in grey wash: Painted by Sir W.C. Ross RA, / Miniature painter to / the Queen and on the reverse in ink in another hand: Doña Maria II / Queen of Portugal / b. April 4 1819 / 1852.