Bergeret portrays the outspoken and arrogant writer Pietro Aretino visiting the artist Tintoretto’s studio to have his portrait painted. The artist, who was told that the model previously had slandered him, is avenged by scaring him with a flintlock pistol under the pretext of measuring the head. Nevertheless, they became friends. The dramatic scene has been interpreted by several historical painters. Bergeret exhibited his version at the Paris Salon in 1822.