The portrait is in Madrid, before that, apparently, was in the collection of the Mantuan dukes and the English King Charles I Stewart. The dating of the portrait is established by letters from Pietro Aretino del Vasto from November and December 1540 and February 1541. Describing the portrait in detail, Aretino calls it “history.”
Alfonso d’Avalos, the Marquis del Vasto, belonged to a noble Italian family. He was one of the commanders of Emperor Charles V and participated in many of his campaigns. The composition of the picture gives an acquaintance with the so-called “Abdlocutio” by Giulio Romano.
Titian at this time had not yet seen the fresco of Giulio Romano in the Vatican Stantsi, but he in the 30s had the opportunity to communicate with Giulio Romano in Mantua and probably saw his sketches and cartons. In Titian’s “Battle of Spoleto”, which has not reached us and is known for copies, some of the motifs are inspired by the “Battle of Constantine and Maxentius” by Giulio Romano. Old copies of the painting are preserved in Madrid and in Naples
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