Nattier became a member of France’s Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture as a history painter, but his forte soon proved to be portraits. This one was bought by Carl Gustaf Tessin during his time as Sweden’s ambassador in Paris, 1739-1742. The marquise was a friend of Tessin’s wife, and the work a gift to symbolise the friendship. Elisabeth the Boullongne, the Marquise de l’Hôpital, was part of the French court.