Jacques Marquet de Montbreton de Norvins (1769 - 1854) had a varied career as a government official, soldier and diplomat. He also published a history of Napoleon. At the time the picture is said to have been painted he was Chief of Police in the Napoleonic government in Rome. His residence in the city is referred to here by the bronze bust of the Roman goddess Athena in the background, which is now in the Vatican, Museo Chiarimonti in Rome.