This is the fourth of six little sonatas (K. 10 through to K. 15) composed in 1764 by the eight-year-old Mozart during his visit to London with his father Leopold and sister Nannerl. Normally termed as violin sonatas, they are more accurately harpsichord sonatas with an obbligato accompaniment for violin or flute, and cello. In general, the violin part of all the sonatas is blended to the treble of the keyboard, although passages of imitation occur from time to time. Such undemanding works were popular in the rapidly growing amateur market and Leopold had them published at his own expense as the young prodigy's Opus 3. The title page, dated January 18, 1785, bears a dedication to Queen Charlotte, the consort of George III, both of whom the Mozart children had met and played before on their appearances at court. The dedication, typically flowery in the spirit of the times, is of particular interest for a passage showing that even as a child Mozart (provided he rather than Leopold wrote it) was aware of posterity. Having summoned the "Genius of Music," he calls upon his aid in order that "I shall become immortal like Händel, and Hasse, and my name will be as celebrated as that of Bach" [Johann Christian Bach, the youngest son of J. S. Bach, who was established in London and became friendly with the child, exerting considerable influence on his developing style]. The F major Sonata has four movements-Allegro, Andante, and two Menuettos, the first of which introduces a trace of the "learned" style by introducing chromatic scales in the piano part imitated in inversion by the violin.

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