The sitter may be Jan Philip van Thielen (1618 - 1677), the flower painter. The man plays a lute; a music score is on the table. He represents the sense of hearing.

One of a series of the 'Five Senses', by Coques, in the Collection; 'Sight', 'Touch', 'Smell', the fifth, 'Taste', is probably a copy. The series was painted before 1661 when 'Sight' was engraved. The costumes suggest a date of about 1655-60.