Oil on copper, 77.5cm by 58.5cm.
Carlo Maratta was one of the leading artists in Rome in the 1680s and was a painter much favoured by John, 5th Earl of Exeter (1648-1700).
Lord Exeter bought a number of works from Maratta, his steward recording a payment of 600 crowns to the artist in the winter of 1683-4, as the party made its way home from Naples at the end of the second Grand Tour.
It is recorded that, like several Grand Tourists of the day, Lord Exeter commissioned Maratta to paint his portrait whilst he was in Italy, though sadly, this is no longer at Burghley and remains unidentified.
