Ercole de' Roberti was one of the leading artists of the 15th-century school of Ferrara. Group portraits were not typical of Italian drawings at this time, making this work of particular value.

After comparing this work with medals of the period, it was suggested that the subjects were the Duke of Ferrara, Ercole I d'Este (centre), his younger brother Sigismondo (left), his elder son Alfonso (right), and possibly his second son Ferrante (back).