The sitter, born on 2 July 1871, was the son of Arthur Hill, 5th Marquess of Downshire, and Georgiana Elizabeth Balfour. In 1874, the year of this portrait, his father died and Arthur inherited the title of 6th Marquess. John Collingham Moore had previously had success as both a landscape and portrait painter, and since 1872 had specialised in painting children's portraits. He was the brother of Albert Joseph Moore (1841-93).