Portrait of a French Gentleman in Rome, French School, 1605

French School, 1605
29,5 x 22,2 cm
With frame: 39,8 x 32,2 cm

inscription on the back: […]LY A XVIII ANS / ESTANT A ROMME / EN 1605 ESAN[…] / EXEL[… ?]

The name of this character is unfortunately illegible. With the clues given by the red and white plume on the helmet and the age, 18 years old in 1605, it would be tempting to identify him with Maximilien II de Béthune, born in 1588, son of the Duke of Sully and nephew of Philippe de Béthune, then Ambassador to the Holy See. However, it is impossible to be able to state this categorically in the current state of research.