Such paintings were not intended publicly to depict the actual persons as themselves, but the facts would have been known at the time to artist and patron, creating a talking point as well as a public test of the artist's skill.
Sådanne malerier havde ikke til formål offentligt at skildre de virkelige personer som sig selv, men de forhold ville have været kendt af både kunstner og mæcen, hvilket skaber et samtaleemne samt en offentlig vidnesbyrd af kunstnerens dygtighed.