Not unanimously attributed to Rembrandt, the portrait is an example of a "tronie" ("face" in Dutch). This type of protrait enjoyed great popularity in the 1630's among aristocratic collectors in Amsterdam and which helped make the work of Rembrandt famous abroad. Given by the Palatine Elector to the marquis Carlo Gerini in Florence, it was later acquired by Ferdinando III of Lorraine for Palazzo Pitti. It has been in the Uffizi Gallery since 1922.