Giuseppe Cesari
The painting was completed ca. 1594–1595, during which time Caravaggio was residing with Giuseppe Cesari and Fantin Petrignani. The painting was almost certainly commissioned by Pietro Vittrice, "guardaroba" of Pope Gregory XIII. Caravaggio was known to have used several prostitutes as models for his works, and historians have speculated that Anna Bianchini is featured in this painting. Contemporary biographers indicate Bianchini may also have featured in Caravaggio's "Death of the Virgin", "Conversion of the Magdalen" (as Martha) and "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" (as the Virgin Mary). It may be the first religious painting ever completed by Caravaggio.