the painting remained in venice until at least 1636 when it was bought by anthony van dyck who was painter at the court of charles i. after his death it was bought by algernon percy, 10th earl of northumberland, one of van dyck's major patrons, and passed by descent through the earls and dukes of northumberland and somerset until 1929, when it was bought by the national gallery. at some point it has been cut down on both sides and at the bottom.