Louise de Kérouaille first visited England in 1670 as Maid of Honour to Charles II’s sister, Henrietta, Duchess of Orléans. On her return to England the following year she became the King’s principal mistress and they had one child together, Charles, Duke of Richmond, after which she was made Duchess of Portsmouth in 1673. Louise stayed in England until 1688, and although she exercised some influence on Anglo-French relations, generally proved unpopular with the general public due to her French nationality and Catholic faith.

Peter Lely was appointed Principal Painter in Ordinary to Charles II in 1661 and enjoyed extensive court patronage, responsible for establishing the image of the Restoration court. He painted Louise de Kerouaille several times; the sitter's pose relates most closely to a work in the Getty Museum, Los Angeles.