The entry in the mid-nineteenth century Enamels inventory states that this was copied by John Simpson 'from Jacobs' (1802 – 66) in 1848. The source, acquired by Prince Albert in 1844, is a half-length oil portrait by Paul Emil Jacobs of the Dowager Duchess of Saxe-Coburg seated at a writing table in black with lace cap and collar (RCIN 404606). It relates to a similar unattributed image of c.1840 in Schloss Ehrenburg, Coburg.

Caroline Amelia, second daughter of William I, Elector of Hesse-Cassel, and Wilhelmine, daughter of Frederick V, King of Denmark, married in 1802, as his second wife, Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. She had no children of her own, but was stepmother to Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha, Prince Albert's mother. Prince Albert was particularly fond of his 'beloved Grandmama' and on her death both he and the Queen inherited from her a number of family pictures, miniatures and other mementos (RA QVJ: 20 May 1848).

John Simpson (1811-after 1871) was trained as a porcelain painter at the Derby porcelain factory before moving to London in 1845. He soon established a practice as a miniature painter specialising in works on enamel, and fulfilled the first of many commissions for Queen Victoria in that year. He is last recorded describing himself at the end of his career as a 'photographic artist' (1871 census return); the date of his death is not known.

Signed, dated and inscribed on the counter-enamel in black paint: Caroline Amelia of Hesse / Duchess Dowager of Saxe / Coburg and Altenburg. / B: July 11th 1772 [sic] and D: Feb  y 22nd 1848 / by J. Simpson. 1848.