The figure '17' in the inscription presumably refers to the sitter's age. The inscription also seems to indicate that he came from Auro in the province of Brescia. He is later recorded as a senior civil servant in Venice and held the posts of 'Scrivan delle Rason vecchie' in 1542 and he was also 'Scrivan of the Scuola della Trinità' in Venice.

The pensive mood and assurance of pose are derived from Titian's portraits and perhaps from Giorgione.