Portrait of an Unknown Man with an Earring, attributed to Nicolò Cassana

The painterly style, color palette, and compositional structure allow this work to be placed within the oeuvre of the renowned Italian master Nicolò Cassana (1659–1714), also widely known by his nickname Nicoletto. Born in Venice, Cassana earned great acclaim as a superb portrait painter and created a large number of portraits in Venice. He left behind a rich artistic legacy, serving also at the court of the Grand Dukes Medici in Florence, and later moving to London, where he painted portraits of prominent members of the British aristocracy and the royal family (including Queen Anne). The artist passed away in London in 1714.