Louise Leopoldine von Meyern Hohenberg (1815-65) was born in Coburg and remained in her hometown throughout most of her life. Her career spanned the sister arts of sculpture and painting. As a local artist, she executed several portraits of the family of Duke Ernst I of Saxe Coburg, including a notable group likeness of 1842. Her portrait of Prince Albert and Prince Ernest, the sons of Princess Louise, is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 408925).

This posthumous portrait depicts Prince Albert’s mother, the first wife of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1784-1844). Seated in a luxurious blue gown before a red curtain, the Duchess is bedecked in an extravagant plumed headdress and wears a heavy gold crucifix about her neck. She holds a small spray of flowers between the finger and thumb of her right hand. It is after a painting by Ludwig Doell in Ehrenburg Castle, Coburg, signed and dated: Doell pinx. 1822 (Inv Nr. CoE.G0113 (CoLa). 

The painting was among those loaned by Queen Victoria to the 1857 Exhibition of Art Treasures in Manchester, which was held at Old Trafford between 5 May and 17 October. The exhibition showcased over 16,000 works of art, drawing inspiration from the Great Exhibition of 1851. Attended by over 1,335,000 visitors, the event was opened by the Prince Consort in the absence of the Queen who was convalescing following the birth of Princess Beatrice.