The half-figure portrait shows Gottlieb Heinrich Schmückert (1790–1862) in full dress uniform 2 years after he took up the position of postmaster general, which he held until his death in 1862. Like the later postmaster general, Heinrich von Stephan, Schmückert moved through various positions within the postal administration. Among other things, he contributed significantly to the establishment of express mail in Prussia, which was a pioneer in this field as a result.