Frederick II, King of Prussia (1712-86) is depicted here wearing the star of the Order of the Black Eagle. Frederick was the son of Frederick I, King of Prussia, whom he succeeded as Frederick II in 1740. On his accession he embarked on a campaign to win the prosperous Austrian province of Silesia during the Silesian Wars (1740-45). He achieved military acclaim for himself and Prussia and is best known for his brilliance in military campaigning and his organisation and reform of the Prussian army. He also encouraged industry, agriculture and judicial reform, and was a cultured aesthete who loved music, architecture and philosophy, even corresponding at length with Voltaire.

Queen Elizabeth (1715-97) was the daughter of Ferdinand Albert, duke of Brunswick-Bayern,and married the crown prince of Prussia, later Frederick II (Frederick the Great), in 1733. At the same time, her brother, Charles, married Frederick's sister, Princess Charlotte. After 1740, Queen Elizabeth lived a life largely separate from her husband, leading an influential court in Berlin while Frederick spent his time in Potsdam. She was never invited to his private residence of Sanssouci.

Frederick's portrait here is a smaller version of another miniature in the Royal Collection (RCIN 420496). Elizabeth's is based on one of the many portraits of her by the court painter, Antoine Pesne.