John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1657-1680) commissioned that portrait of himself... he was somewhat obsessed with the idea that men were simply apes with airs. Pre-Darwin, a most radical idea...
That period, the Restoration, is my favourite idee fixe as of late, as per "The Libertine"... the Earl played by J. Depp and the decadent King Charles II played by J. Malkovich, who is always gorgey in a periwig.
I saw it in the theatre and it didn't register and now I'm worshipping...