This forceful image of an unknown man was painted during the first decade of the 16^th century, at a time when Titian was the favorite portraitist of the Venetian nobility. The portrait conveys the vivid sense of presence so often observed by Titian's contemporaries.

If the portrait produced by the perfection of art-which is so with you alone-approach the truth so closely that, with spirit added to them as well, Nature could reside there in vain.
-Lodovico Dolce, 1538