Federico da Montefeltro (1422 - 1482), Duke of Urbino is shown seated in centre, in profile to left, holding a large book and wearing the vestments of the Order of the Garter (which he received in 1474). On his mantle is a shield with a cross of St George, surrounded by a circular band (the Garter) inscribed with the motto of the Order 'Honi Soit qui mal y Pense' (Disgraced be he who thinks ill of it). Beside Federico stands his young son Guidobaldo, dressed in cloth of gold. In front of them a man in black is seated at a raised lectern and appears to be delivering a lecture or oration. Three courtiers sit on a bench, and a group of men stand at the doorway in the background as though waiting to enter the room. The perspective indicates that the painting was designed to be hung high on a wall. The reverse of the painting has indications that it was once set into panelling, so it would have been fixed into the wooden panels of a room. This would have been at one of Federico's palaces, but it is not known which one. The Latin inscription on the cornice identities Federico with his title 'FEDERICVS. DVX. VRBINI. MONTIS. FE[RETRI COMES]'. Federico da Montefeltro was extremely wealthy and was an important patron of learning, architecture and art. His distinctive profile with a broken nose - which is helpful in identifying him in portraits - was caused by an accident during a tournament in 1450. He lost his right eye at the same time, which explains why portraits of him after this date place him in profile. Justus of Ghent (active about 1460-1480) became a master in Antwerp in 1460 and Ghent in 1464. He appears to have been summoned to Urbino by the Duke and he became the best-known Netherlandish artist working in Italy in the 15th century.