A Procurator of Saint Mark's

The folds of this imposing figure’s garment sweep upward in an unbroken line to his illuminated face. His hand projects toward the viewer. His costume is disproportionately bulky in relation to his head, emphasizing the sense of authority and grandeur.

An official portrait intended for an institutional setting likely would not have these traits. The Venetian system of government rigidly suppressed the cult of personality, and official portraiture demonstrates a penchant for conformity. It is unclear exactly who this man was or what level of authority he may have had, but this portrait was almost certainly created for a private setting. (Since the portrait entered the Gallery’s collection, the subject has been identified as a procurator of Saint Mark, one of the most prestigious offices in Venice, on the basis of the type of robes he is wearing, but it is possible he may have been a senator or another type of official.)

As is typical for Jacopo Tintoretto’s finest portraits, the format is minimalist. The shadowy background shows only a simple architectural form—perhaps the high plinth of a column or pier—barely sketched in. Aside from the sitter’s robe of office and the chair on which he sits, there are no further accoutrements. Nothing distracts from the emphasis on the sitter’s face, and in particular on his gaze, directed out at the viewer.

Credit: Samuel H. Kress Collection