Benedetto Luti was born in Florence and trained there by the Medici court painter, Anton Domenico Gabbiani, before moving to Rome where he established a successful career, enjoying the patronage of Pope Clement XI and other leading figures of the church. Well known and regarded for his chalk and pastel drawings, Luti was considered one of the greatest artists in Rome during his lifetime. Maintaining a private teaching studio as well as fulfilling commissions, he was a dealer and connoisseur of great renown as well as a collector of artwork, amassing a drawings collection of over 15,000 pieces, and acting as an intermediary, buying and selling paintings for royal families and wealthy patrons.