Paolo del Serra, one of Leopoldo de' Medici most appreciated advisers as regards to works of art purchase, in 1660 writes about this painting: "It is one of the beautiful portraits I have seen during my life". Leopoldo, who decided to get the picture, judged it "exquisite". This opinion was certainly shared by the other members of the Medici family, because in a short time the painting was moved to the Uffizi Gallery, where many others prestigious works were kept. The appreciation of the panting expressed by its first estimators, has been shared during the centuries by many others critics, who (as we could do today) praised the lively naturalism and the high pictorial quality, which can be seen in the man features and in the book that lies askance on the marble window-sill.

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.