Charles Joseph, prince de Ligne (1735–1814) was a distinguished officer in the Austrian army until 1790, an accomplished courtier, a noted wit and the author of extensive memoirs. He was elected knight of the Golden Fleece in 1772, and a commander of the Order of Maria Theresa in 1789. His country seat was the Château of Beloeil, near Ath in Belgium. The present picture is a sketch from life for a portrait by Grassi, signed and dated 1790 (London, private collection). Grassi is known to have painted at least one other portrait of the same sitter in 1807; other portraits of the prince include one by Leclercq (c.1790; Beloeil), a bust-length by Isabey (1814) and a miniature by the same artist. In the posthumous inventory of the 4th Marquess of Hertford the picture was listed under an attribution to Gainsborough.