James Hope (1801–1841) received medical training at Edinburgh University, where he was a president of the Royal Medical Society. After graduating he travelled in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Holland before settling in London, where he built up a very successful practice. In 1831 he became physician at the Marylebone Infirmary, and he was appointed assistant physician at St George's Hospital in 1834. He lectured at the Aldersgate Street Medical School, and his principal work, 'A Treatise on the Diseases of the Heart and Great Vessels', was published in 1832 and reached a fourth edition in 1849. He was elected fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1840, and died of tuberculosis the following year.

The portrait was painted by Thomas Phillips (1770–1845), a leading English portrait and subject painter, who painted many of the great men of his day, including scientists, artists, writers, poets and explorers.