Nicolò Zen (1515-1565)

"Described by Vasari (Titian's biographer) in 1567 as among the artist's later portraits, the sitter of this painting lost his identity for a while until his likeness was recently matched with an inscribed sculptured bust (now in the Museum of Bassano del Grappa). Nicolò Zen was a Savio di terraferma and a Knight (either of which would account for the colour of his robe), a member of the Council of Ten and served as ambassador to Charles V in 1545. He was also an author and a friend of the publisher Francesco Marcolini, and of Titian's patrons Pietro Aretino and Daniele Barbaro." [1]