The sitter was the natural son of King Philip IV of Spain (died 1665) and the actress Maria Inés Calderón. The artist has adopted the traditional style of Court painting initiated by Velázquez, where the accent was on the greatest possible simplicity of treatment as opposed to the extravagant elaboration seen at most other European Courts. There are several versions known of this composition, which was probably due to the importance of the sitter, who was chief minister to King Carlos II of Spain (reigned 1665 – 1700).  The picture can be dated to c1670, based on the apparent age of the sitter.

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