Titian, after a self-portrait, by Elizabeth Sterne, circa 1775.

Tiziano Vecelli (c.1488/90 – 1576), more usually known as Titian, was a founder and one of the most important artists of the 16th Century Venetian School. Extremely versatile in his choice of subject matter, he was widely admired by his contemporaries and in his use of colour and loose brushwork, he would profoundly influence future generations of artists.
He is shown, perhaps in the early to middle years of his long life, wearing a black cap and gown with a gold chain. The 5.5cm oval gilt-metal frame is engraved on the reverse ‘Titian./by Miss Sterne/ at Rome’.