Charles must have been delighted to acquire Titian’s jewel of a painting during his 1623 visit to Madrid as Prince of Wales. Its subject matter, clearly so intense and tender, is still the subject of debate among art historians today. Along with no. 8 in this room, The Allocution, it is one of two paintings in the collection historically associated with the mercenary Alfonso d’Avalos, the Marquis of Vasto.