In 1575, Tintoretto began work on his masterpiece – the monumental narrative paintings decorating the chapter hall of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This was no ordinary commission. The Scuola Grande was one of the most prestigious institutions in Venice and the custodian of the relics of Saint Roch, the patron saint of plague…
The Last Supper has been a popular subject in art since the earliest days of Christianity. This was especially true during the Renaissance, which produced the most famous depiction of the subject in Leonardo Da Vinci’s mural for the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Even in its poorly conserved state, we still admire the…
The Crucifixion is one of Tintoretto’s most dynamic works. Painted to decorate the boardroom of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, it is a classic Tintoretto piece, giving equal focus to both the primary subject of the scene and the wide range of individuals there to witness it. On the one hand is the powerful…
On December 20, 1577 disaster struck Venice. The Doge’s Palace – the architectural gem of the Venetian Republic – was hit with a devastating fire, leaving massive damage to the southern portion of the building. The damage was so great that some wondered if the whole Palace shouldn’t be torn down and rebuilt. It was…
As the 1540’s progressed, Tintoretto’s career was floundering. His apprenticeship to Titian, the great Venetian Renaissance master, had ended acrimoniously. Patrons were turned off by his experimental painting style. And he never seemed able to obtain the sort of major public commission other artists had used to establish themselves in the city. He needed a…