This is a copy, with slight variations, by Henry Bone (1755-1834) of the portrait by Sir William Beechey of Princess Sophia (RCIN 403417) painted for the George, Prince of Wales (the future George IV) in 1800. The copy was probably done for Sophia or her mother, Queen Charlotte, as it does not appear in Bone'a Accounts for the Prince of Wales.

Bone was born in Truro in Cornwall, the son of a woodcarver and cabinet maker, and began his artistic career painting on china for local manufacturers. In about 1779, he moved to London, where he became established as one of the most outstanding enamellists of his day. His children and grandchildren also became miniaturists. He painted designs for lockets, watches and jewellery. He was principally a copyist and his large-scale enamels were based on paintings by Old Masters and leading contemporary artists. He exhibited over 240 items at the Royal Academy between 1781 and 1832, when his eyesight began to fail. He was appointed enamel painter to the future George IV in 1801, before holding the same position to George III from 1809, and later George IV and William IV. Bone could obtain top prices for his work – in 1811 he received 2,200 guineas for his framed Bacchus and Ariadne. He was described by a contemporary as a ‘worthy, kind, liberal and affectionate man’.

The miniature is signed on the lower left: HBone, and inscribed on the backing card: H.R.H. Princess Sophia / painted by Henry Bone A.R.A. / Enamel painter to the Prince of Wales / Feb. 1805.