The famous Venetian painter portrays the Augustinian monk Onofrio Panvinio, a very learned and industrious humanist, who attended to research and interpretations of Roman antiquities. Characteristic of the Tintoretto language are the effects of light that specifically illuminate the face and hands to enhance the erudition of the portrayed, accentuated by a lively look at the observer. The ancient history of the painting can be traced back to 1672, when it is described in the will of the Salviati family in Florence. From 1718, it became part of the Colonna collection as part of the marriage dowry of Caterina Zeffirina Salviati, who married Fabrizio Colonna.