On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00379
- Author
- Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti (Italian)
- Title
- Marco Grimani
- Chronology
- 1576-1583
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 77 cm x 63 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A portrait of Marco Grimani (d.
1583), a Venetian senator and
contemporary of tintoretto. In
keeping with the artist's customary
portrait compositions, the sitter
appears slightly turned, over a
black background, and gazing
fixedly at the viewer. The
placement of his left arm opens the
work's perspective into a third
dimension. This realistic
representation of the model is
characteristic of Tintoretto, who
differed from his contemporaries in
his faithful depiction of his
sitters. The attributes of
Grimani's social stature are shown,
including his red velvet clothing
with ermine skins, but neither his
age nor his personality traits are
idealized.
The artist uses light to bring out
the most important details, such as
his hands and face, which contrast
with the black background.
Tintoretto became especially famous
for his portraits, thanks to which
he had his first successes in
sixteenth-century Venice.
