Stroehling was born in Dusseldorf. He worked in France, Russia, Austria and Italy, before coming to London at the beginning of the 19th Century. He began to exhibit portraits at the Royal Academy in 1803 and continued to do so from various addresses in London - Pall Mall, Henrietta Street, Charles Street - until 1826. He was Historical Painter to the Prince of Wales between 1810 and 1820, and there are numerous references in the Prince's papers to portraits commissioned from Stroehling to be given as presents. The present portrait is possibly of a British Consul as the holder of some other diplomatic post in Venice.