Portrait of Giulio Cesare Secco d'Aragona

The benefactor, who died in 1691, left the Ospedale Maggiore of which he was deputy in 1669, a legacy of 300,000 lire, to respect the wishes of his wife Anna Monti. The church of the Crociferi in Via Durini also benefits, alongside his home and a woman, perhaps a maid, for having thwarted a burglary in the house and having removed him from the probable violent intentions of the two criminals who had already entered the bedroom. The portrait probably comes with the inheritance, as the inscription "E. of his commission" would signify if "E:" means "Executed". The portrait is by an unknown author, probably inspired by Hispano-Flemish painting, it is certainly not by Salomon Adler, to whom he had been attributed for a time. The silhouette of the benefactor, with spurs, boots, bandolier and sword (the feathered hat is resting on the table), stands out in the background, giving us back a "photograph" of the fashion of the time.