King George is seen here wearing the star of the Order of the Garter. The portrait is a copy of the King's head from Sir William Beechey's full-length portrait in the Royal Collection (RCIN 405422).

The artist, Samuel Cotes (1734-1818), was the younger son of an apothecary based in Cork Street, London. Samuel also trained as an apothecary but was taught to paint by his brother, the portrait painter Francis Cotes. He exhibited at the Society of Arts from 1760 to 1768 and at the Royal Academy from 1769 to 1789. He was married twice and his second wife, Sarah Shepherd, was an amateur painter.

The miniature is signed on the right: S. Cotes and set in a narrow gold frame, backed with ebony inlaid with a crown and the monogram GR.