When Jacob Maentel started painting frontal portraits, he introduced a formula of colorful and elaborately appointed interiors that included furnishings such as these painted slat-back Windsor side chairs with bamboo turnings, expensive high-style looking glasses, and embellished wall and floor coverings. He frequently portrayed married couples on separate sheets of paper that formed a continuous and almost symmetrical scene when placed side by side.

Peter Zimmerman (1802–1887) was born in Millcreek Township, Pennsylvania, the youngest of ten children. As an adult, he was a well-respected farmer and cattle drover and made many trips west to procure livestock for markets in Schaefferstown. He was a staunch Democrat, although he never sought public office, and a member of the Lutheran Church, for which he served as deacon, elder, and trustee. His wife Maria Rex Zimmerman (1804–1887) was descended on her mother's side from Alexander Schaeffer, the founder of Schaefferstown. Her father, Abraham, and his brother Samuel were Schaefferstown storekeepers. Extant record books show Maentel was a patron of the store between at least 1825 and 1830; he had further transactions with Samuel Rex in 1832 and 1833. Thus Maentel was probably personally familiar with Maria and her family when he painted these portraits.

The couple's house was built in 1758 and operated as a tavern until 1806, at which time Samuel Rex took up residence. After he died, the house was passed to Abraham, who in turn gave it to Maria. She and Peter lived the remainder of their lives in the "Rex House," as it is presently known, and which is owned by Historic Schaefferstown, Inc. Interestingly, based upon contemporary examinations of sections of walls in the house, the patterns depicted in Maentel's rendering are most probably painted decorations, and not wallpaper.

It is not known when the Zimmermans married, but their first child was baptized in 1827, just about the time these portraits were painted. An interesting link exists between the Zimmermans and another prominent Schaefferstown family portrayed by Maentel, establishing that on occasion his clients were well known to one another. The couple's daughter Susan Amanda married Alfred Bucher, son of Dr. Christian and Mary Bucher. Like his father, Alfred was a physician, continuing a long-established family tradition of pursuing the medical profession.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Peter Zimmerman," in American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 382.