Martin van Meytens was born into a family of artists originally from Flanders. His father had moved to Sweden to work as a portrait painter, so Martin van Meytens the Younger was born in Stockholm. After training in his father's studio, he specialised in miniature enamel portraits, which were in great demand. He received commissions from all over Europe and worked in London, Paris, Vienna, Florence, Turin and Milan. In 1730, he finally settled in Vienna and was appointed court painter in 1732. He painted several portraits of the Empress Maria Theresa as well as mostly large-scale individual and group portraits of the Austrian and Hungarian aristocracy. Until old age, van Meytens remained at court where he was highly respected. He was director of the Viennese Academy of Fine Arts, spoke several languages, played instruments and was interested in natural sciences. He produced his own paints and in 1743 received permission from the empress to establish a paint factory.

Martin van Meytens was born into a family of artists originally from Flanders. His father had moved to Sweden to work as a portrait painter, so Martin van Meytens the Younger was born in Stockholm. After training in his father's studio, he specialised in miniature enamel portraits, which were in great demand. He received commissions from all over Europe and worked in London, Paris, Vienna, Florence, Turin and Milan. In 1730, he finally settled in Vienna and was appointed court painter in 1732. He painted several portraits of the Empress Maria Theresa as well as mostly large-scale individual and group portraits of the Austrian and Hungarian aristocracy. Until old age, van Meytens remained at court where he was highly respected. He was director of the Viennese Academy of Fine Arts, spoke several languages, played instruments and was interested in natural sciences. He produced his own paints and in 1743 received permission from the empress to establish a paint factory.