Lawrence succeeded Sir Joshua Reynolds as Painter in Ordinary to the King in 1792. At this time he painted several historical and religious pictures such as "Satan Summoning his Legions". However, the demand for his Society portraits left him little time to pursue this theme. His reputation was further enhanced when he was commissioned by the Prince Regent to paint all the principal characters in the downfall of Napoleon. This became the great series of portraits now hanging in the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor. Lawrence exhibited at the Royal Academy upuntil his death in 1830 and became President of theAcademy in 1820. Heis widely regarded as one of the most accomplished British portrait painters of all time.

Museums where examples of the artist's work can be found include: Amsterdam, Budapest, Dublin, Hanover, Liverpool, London (National Gallery, Wallace Collection and National Portrait Gallery), Munich, Paris (Louvre), Versailles and Windsor.

Note: Harriet, daughter of Peter Beckford of Stepleton House, Dorset, author of Thoughts upon Hare and Fox Hunting, married her neighbour Henry Seymour, later Ker-Seymour, of Hansford House. This portrait had evidently been begun before 14 February 1806, when a balance of 18 pounds and 8 shillings of the price of 35 guineas was outstanding.