Franz Xaver Winterhalter (b.1805 d.1873) was a German painter known for his portraits of royalty. His romantic and alluring style of painting was a success amongst the aristocracy and meant he completed numerous paintings of European Royalty and the upper-class. Most notable is his painting of Elisabeth, Empress of Austria (1865). Winterhalter was first summoned to London in 1841 where he was commissioned to paint Queen Victoria. He went on to complete both official portraits and more private images for her.