On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00414
- Author
- Titian [Vecellio di Gregorio Tiziano] (Italian)
- Title
- Daniello Barbaro, Patriarch of Aquileya
- Chronology
- Ca. 1545
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 81 cm x 69 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A portrait of the Venetian
nobleman, Daniele (or Daniello)
Barbaro (1513-1570), a literato,
ambassador and humanist of great
renown during his time, and a
friend of other great figures from
that period, including Pietro Bembo
and Benedetto Varchi. In allusion
to his intellectual activity,
Titian painted him with a book in
his left hand. Moreover, as a
dramatic reinforcement, light is
used to bring out the composition's
most important elements: the
subject's face and his hand on the
book, which contrast with the black
clothing and dark background.
The collector, Paolo Giovio had an
identical copy of this portrait —
except that it also had the
subject's name— in his gallery of
illustrious men in Como. That
painting is now at the National
Gallery in Ottawa.
The painting in the Prado Museum
was acquired in the sale of the
belongings of Charles I of England
and is listed at Madrid's Alcázar
Palace in the inventories of 1666,
1686 and 1700.
