Carlo Dolci was born in Florence in 1616 and entered the workshop of Jacopo Vignali as a child. He developed a reputation for carefully finished paintings, particularly religious works intended for private devotion. His slow and painstaking technique gave his figures polished surfaces, precise details, and delicate expressions.
Dolci worked largely in Florence and enjoyed the support of distinguished patrons, including members of the Medici circle. Unlike painters who emphasized grand movement and dramatic action, he often concentrated on a small number of figures, using subtle expressions and symbolic details to encourage contemplation. His compositions were repeated by his workshop and later artists, and his reputation extended well beyond Italy.