File:Nicholas I of Russia by J,Lee (1844-5, Royal Coll.).jpg

English: Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia (1796-1855)

This miniature is stated in the Enamels inventory of 1877 to have been painted by Lee in 1845, although it was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1844 and listed in her private accounts at that date:  ‘To Lee for enamels of the Emperor of Russia, the Duke of Brunswick & Prince Chas: Ed the 2d Pretender £53.0.0.’(RA VIC/ADDT/231/67). It is after a portrait by Franz Krüger (1797-1857) known from an engraving by Carl Mayer (RCIN 614567). The Emperor is shown in Imperial Russian uniform with the ribbon and star of the Order of St Andrew, the star of the Order of the Garter and the badges of the Order of St George of Russia and others. Many other versions in miniature were made by Alois Gustav Rockstuhl, court miniaturist to Emperor Nicholas I. The impetus for the commission must have come from the Emperor's visit to London in June 1844. On 2 June 1844 Queen Victoria recorded in her Journal: ‘The Emperor’s appearance is very striking; though 48, he is still very handsome, very tall & with a very good figure. His features are quite classical and regular (RA QVJ).’

Joseph Lee (1780-1859) was self-taught as an an enamellist at a late age, but made a successful career as an enamel painter, exhibiting intermittently at the RA and the SBA between 1809 and 1853 from addresses in London. As well as enjoying the patronage of Princess Charlotte of Wales, he also worked as ‘enamel painter’ to Augustus, Duke of Sussex, uncle to Queen Victoria. It may have been the gift of a small enamel of the Duke of Sussex to Queen Victoria that first made her familiar with Lee’s work. She employed his services for producing enamel copies based on oil paintings between 1844 and 1850. He retired from miniature painting in his final years and died, aged seventy-nine, in Gravesend, Kent, on 26 December 1859.