This miniature of Queen Caroline belongs to a group painted from life in 1732, when George Vertue, the engraver and antiquary, noted: 'Mr Zincke often at Court drawing pictures of the Royal Family … the King and Queen have sat to him'.

Caroline of Ansbach married George Augustus, the Electoral Prince of Hanover, the future George II, in 1705. She was seen as a protestant heroine in Britain as she had earlier turned down marriage to the Holy Roman Emperor because she could not bring herself to convert to Catholicism. When he met her, George was immediately struck with her 'good character' and 'would not think of anybody else after her' according to the British envoy at the time. One contemporary commentator noted that her 'power was unrivalled and unbounded' and that 'she directed everything … either at home or abroad'. When she died in 1734 George was distraught.

The artist, Christian Frederick Zincke (1683/4-1767), was born in Dresden, the son of a goldsmith. He settled in England in 1706 and studied enamel painting under Charles Boit. He developed a thriving business, at first copying portraits by Sir Peter Lely and Sir Godfrey Kneller, then painting from life. He worked extensively for the royal family and, perhaps because he spoke German, was one of the few artists George II could tolerate. By 1730 he was well established at court and in February 1732, was appointed Cabinet Painter to Frederick, Prince of Wales, George II's eldest son. His eyesight began to fail, however, and he lamented: 'I find my Eyes scarce Capable of seeing them fine strokes'. By 1752 he had retired and only painted for his own pleasure. George II commented that Zincke's portraits were 'beautiful and like'.