Virginia Water is a large man-made lake on the edge of Windsor Great Park. It was created in 1753 to form a drainage system for the park by William, Duke of Cumberland, third son of King George II. He was ranger of the park and his deputy was Thomas Sandby, brother of the artist, Paul Sandby. There are a number of drawings in the Royal Collection by the Sandby brothers, relating to landscape and architectural features of Virginia Water. The lake covers 130 acres, is slightly over two miles long and one third of a mile wide at its widest point. Its circumference is about seven miles. It is thought it may have been named after Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen.

This miniature is by Henry Bone (1755-1834). Bone was born in Truro in Cornwall, the son of a woodcarver and cabinet maker, and began his artistic career painting on china for local manufacturers. In about 1779, he moved to London, where he became established as one of the most outstanding enamellists of his day. His children and grandchildren also became miniaturists. He painted designs for lockets, watches and jewellery. He was principally a copyist and his large-scale enamels were based on paintings by Old Masters and leading contemporary artists. He exhibited over 240 items at the Royal Academy between 1781 and 1832, when his eyesight began to fail. He was appointed enamel painter to the future George IV in 1801, before holding the same position to George III from 1809, and later George IV and William IV. Bone could obtain top prices for his work – in 1811 he received 2,200 guineas for his framed Bacchus and Ariadne. He was described by a contemporary as a ‘worthy, kind, liberal and affectionate man’.

The miniature is inscribed by the artist on the back in brown paint: Painted by Henry Bone R.A. – / Enamel Painter to His Majesty / and to His late R.H. the Duke of York / 1827 / Virginia Water (the date nearly illegible but probably 1827, 8 or 9).