The representation of the high member of the clergy fits perfectly in the portrait production of Stefano Casabona, artist who started his academic training in his birth town Genoa (1)-where he left in its territory some of his first devotional themed works (2)-before moving to Rome, where he was already living in the 1793.

[…] The Casabona manner is characterized by a good executive syntax illustrating the interior of a studio where Federici is portrayed frontally with all the attributes tied to his authority. In the 1808, year of the making of the canvas, his role was “Ponente della Sacra Consulta”, as specify by the inscription all along the edge of the map of the town of Rome, collocated on the desk, signed by the painter.
At the centre of the painting, at the side of clergyman, the painter has symmetrically painted a young guy, dressed with the style fashion at the time-who looks like evoking the ones displayed in other of his portraits-probably tied to the same familiar entourage, as shown by the seals adorning his elegant outfit; honorific distinction that may let us supposed he could be that very same Giovan Battista Federici, at the time in Roma, as attested by the heading of the letter on the books on the desk.

Excerpt  of the expertise by doc. Simona Sperindei