The sitter was the eldest son of Charles Albert, Prince of Carignano and Maria Theresa of Austria (daughter of Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany). He was King of Sardinia from 1849 until 1861 when he became King of Italy, becoming the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century. He married his cousin, Adelaide of Austria and he was succeeded by his eldest son, Umberto I. His second son ruled as King Amadeo I of Spain from 1870 to 1873 and his daughter Maria Pia became Queen of Portugal as consort of King Luis I of Portugal in 1862.