The identity of the man portrayed could be deduced from the book he holds in his left hand and which, on the basis of the iscription on the back cover is Monarchia del Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo, a religious work published in Venice in 1545 by the poet Giovanni Antonio Pantera. Therefore he was already identified as the subject of Moroni's painting in the nineteenth century. The attribution to the Lombard artist, who was one of the greatest sixteenth century portraitists (and not only in Italy) was never questioned precisely because of the poetic and at the same time strong naturalism that distinguished this painting.

This painting was restored thanks to the initiative of the ROMUALDO DEL BIANCO FOUNDATION and the co-operation with the project "BE PART OF HISTORY" by VIVA HOTELS in Florence. The Project was created in order to give a contribution to Florence Artistic Heritage with restoration of pieces of art of different Florentine Museums.