[1][2][3] Known in his youth as a novelist, Disraeli turned to politics during the Victorian era and twice held the premiership.

Millais managed to schedule only three sittings as Disraeli was in poor health and died shortly afterwards.

At the request of Queen Victoria the painting was sent in as a late entry to the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition that year.

It is now in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, having been acquired in 1945 through a gift by Lord Hambleden.

[4] Millais also painted Disraeli's political rival William Gladstone, in 1879, and this is now also in the National Portrait Gallery.