Born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Graefle studied in Munich with two artists of the ‘Nazarene movement’, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872) and Peter von Cornelius (1784-1867). He was a close associate of Franz Xaver Winterhalter and was sometimes employed by the royal family as a worthy and more tractable substitute. Princess Louise (1848–1939) was the sixth of Queen Victoria’s nine children. Beautiful and artistic, as an adult she supported the women’s movement and helped launch the Girls Public Day School Company. Queen Victoria described this portrait as ‘lovely’. Signed and dated: 'A. Graefle pt / 1864.' Inscribed on the back with the names of the artist and sitter and the date, February 1864.