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Lot Essay
The son of Jacopo Tintoretto, Domenico Tintoretto trained in his father's studio and entered the Venetian painters' guild aged only seventeen. He assisted his father on prestigious projects but was soon entrusted with independent commissions, including at the Doge's Palace, the various Venetian scuole and local churches such as San Giorgio Maggiore. Although an able history painter, Domenico became particularly sought after for his portraits and recorded the features of the most important individuals of his day, from Margaret of Austria, later Queen of Spain, to Vincenzo I Gonzaga, 4th Duke of Mantua.
This striking group portrait, in which the heads of four unidentified senators are shown, can be compared with Domenico’s two large upright canvases with portraits of members of the confraternity of the Scuola dei Mercanti, now in the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice (see P. Rossi, Jacopo Tintoretto, I Ritratti, I, Venice, 1974, figs. 250 and 251).
According to an old photograph in the Witt Library (Somerset House, London), this picture formed part of the collection at Palazzo Giovanelli, Venice, which also included Jacopo Tintoretto’s spectacular five metre long telero depicting The Siege of Asola, sold in these Rooms, 8 July 2014, lot 42, for £1,142,500. Originally from Bergamo, the Giovanelli were granted the title of Count by the Venetian Senate in 1668, with jurisdiction over the provinces of Morengo and Carpenedo. In December of that year, following the payment of 100,000 ducats, the family was granted membership to the Great Council.
This striking group portrait, in which the heads of four unidentified senators are shown, can be compared with Domenico’s two large upright canvases with portraits of members of the confraternity of the Scuola dei Mercanti, now in the Gallerie dell’Accademia, Venice (see P. Rossi, Jacopo Tintoretto, I Ritratti, I, Venice, 1974, figs. 250 and 251).
According to an old photograph in the Witt Library (Somerset House, London), this picture formed part of the collection at Palazzo Giovanelli, Venice, which also included Jacopo Tintoretto’s spectacular five metre long telero depicting The Siege of Asola, sold in these Rooms, 8 July 2014, lot 42, for £1,142,500. Originally from Bergamo, the Giovanelli were granted the title of Count by the Venetian Senate in 1668, with jurisdiction over the provinces of Morengo and Carpenedo. In December of that year, following the payment of 100,000 ducats, the family was granted membership to the Great Council.