The Latin inscription at the bottom of this drawing states that it was drawn on 15 December 1614. Although the handwriting does not belong to Palma there is no reason to doubt its accuracy, as the style and appearance are consistent with his other self-portraits. This introspective portrait displays Palma’s ability to capture his own psychological state; his intense gaze and relaxed expression accurately convey the expression of a man absorbed in self-study. In many ways this pre-empts the introspective self-portraits by artist of later centuries such as Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh. Here, Palma experimented with coloured chalks, a medium which he used only occasionally. Similarly, Van Gogh would frequently use his own image when experimenting with an unfamiliar technique or effect.