Margaret Woffington was born in Dublin. Her father was a bricklayer and her mother a washerwoman and salad seller. At a very young age she joined the Lilliputian theatre company in Dublin. In her early twenties, in 1740, she moved to London and was an immediate success, taking on a number of Shakespearean roles with David Garrick, the actor and playwright, with whom she lived for a time. She was a dedicated and talented actress. Theophilus Cibber, a contemporary actor, wrote: 'she is ever searching after Improvement, and joins indefatigable Industry to her other Qualifications, never regardless of a friendly Hint from any one, nor vainly above Instruction'. On 3 May 1757, she became paralysed during a performance of As You Like It. She retired to her home in Teddington and died on 28 March 1760.

Gervase Spencer (active 1740-63) was described by George Vertue, the engraver and antiquary, as 'a young man … who not long or a few years ago was in the capacity of a footman … and now professes to liming [painting] with some succes. Which demonstrates a Genius pratizing by degrees of himself – and really is in a curious neat manner & masterly'. It is not known with whom he undertook his artistic training, but he became a prolific artist, his enamels having a soft and delicate appearance, and he excelled at painting women.