[1] [2] The sitter was a German-born composer who hailed from Bach family, a prominent musical dynasty which included his father Johann Sebastian Bach.

Because of his long-standing residence in Britain he became known as the "English Bach".

[3] Gainsborough was based in the fashionable city of Bath between 1759 and 1774 concentrating on portraits of society figures as well as leading artists and musicians, before he relocated to London where he continued his practice.

He was a friend of Bach and when a painting was required of him for a gallery of prominent musicians in Bologna for Giovanni Battista Martini, Bach chose his English friend to produce the portrait.

Today this version painting is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, having been acquired in 1983.