Konstantin Cretius was a painter of religious and genre scenes and portraits who studied at the Berlin Academy before travelling to Brussels, Paris, Italy and, in 1846, to Constantinople and Asia. He later taught at the Berlin Academy.

This miniature is after a portrait of 1748 by Antoine Pesne; a signed and dated version is in the collection at Gripsholm, Sweden.

Sophia Dorothea, only daughter of George I, married, in 1706, her first cousin, Frederick William I, King of Prussia, by whom she had 14 children. Their eldest surviving son succeeded his father as Frederick II, 'The Great', King of Prussia.

Signed and dated outside the gold border in red paint: C Gretius 1845. An old backing paper attached to the reverse is inscribed, probably by the artist: Sophia Dorothea / d. of Geo. I. K. of Gr. Br. / wife of Fred. Will I / King of Prussia / born 1687 & Died 1757 / C. Gretius pinx / 1845.