This family portrait shows Sir Thomas Barrett-Lennard (1717–1786), 17th Lord Dacre, with his wife and first child. The story behind this portrait is very unfortunate, since the child, Barbara Anne died of a sudden fever when she was only nine years old.

This portrait was painted when the parents, after the untimely death of their only daughter, went to experience the Grand Tour as a distraction during their recovery. After visiting Naples, Florence, Venice and other Italian cities, the couple arrived in Rome around 1750, where they met painter Pompeo Batoni.

The artist painted Barbara Anne's likeness from a miniature by Thomas Hudson which the couple brought with them on their travels.