Maria Antonia (1724-80) was the daughter of Emperor Charles VII. She married the elector of Saxony, Frederick Christian, in 1747. She was a talented amateur painter, poet and musician and an honorary member of the Academy of S. Luca, the association of painters, in Rome. As she painted in oil, pastel and miniature it is possible that this miniature may be a copy of a self-portrait. The inscription on the back – Karlina – is something of a mystery as comparison with known portraits of the electress confirms that this is without doubt a portrait of Maria Antonia.

In 1767, George III bought 'twenty or more Miniature or colour'd drawings copied from the German of the House of Brunswick' and this miniature may have been among them.

Inscribed on the back in pencil indistinctly: Karline.