A portrait of the Venetian nobleman, Daniele (or Daniello) Barbaro (1513-1570), a philosopher, ambassador and humanist of great renown during his time, and a friend of other great figures from that period, including Pietro Bembo and Benedetto Varchi. In allusion to his intellectual activity, Titian painted him with a book in his left hand. Moreover, as a dramatic reinforcement, light is used to bring out the composition's most important elements: the subject's face and his hand on the book, which contrast with the black clothing and dark background.

The collector, Paolo Giovio had an identical copy of this portrait — except that it also had the subject's name— in his gallery of illustrious men in Como. That painting is now at the National Gallery in Ottawa.

The painting in the Prado Museum was acquired in the sale of the belongings of Charles I of England and is listed at Madrid's Alcázar Palace in the inventories of 1666, 1686 and 1700.