The signed photograph Bisleti gave Muller-Ury on 5 July 1907.
The sitter was born in Veroli, Italy, on 20 March 1856 and was educated at the seminary at Tivoli and the Pontifical Academy of Ecclesiastical Nobles where he obtained a doctorate in theology in 1879. Bisleti was ordained on 20 September 1878. He was appointed Canon and archdeacon of the cathedral chapter of Veroli where he served until 1884. He was created Privy Chamberlain on 20 December 1884. He was raised to the level of Domestic prelate and master of Papal chamber on 29 May 1901 and was still a Monsignor and Maggiodomo di Sua Santita when Muller-Ury painted him in 1907. He was created a Cardinal-Deacon in 1911. He died on 30 August 1937 in Grottaferrata.
According to the New York Herald, Sunday, December 27, 1908, Muller-Ury painted the portrait along with those of Pope Pius X and Cardinal Merry del Val in 1907. And a letter from Bishop Kennedy to the artist, dated April 10, 1908, from Rome (artist’s papers) confirms this: ‘…What has become of Mgr. Bisletti’s portrait which I sent early in January? I hope it arrived safely…’
