Study for a Portrait of a Doge
fourth quarter 16th century
Medium
Black and white chalk, on rough tan paper.
Dimensions
11 9/16 x 7 1/2 in. (29.3 x 19.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.531
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of late 16th-century Venice, this *Study for a Portrait of a Doge* emerges from the Circle of Tintoretto, the innovative Mannerist master Jacopo Tintoretto and his talented workshop. Created in the final quarter of the century, it captures a preliminary sketch of a Doge—the elected leader of the Venetian Republic—clad in the ceremonial robes and distinctive corno hat symbolizing power and piety. Such studies were essential in the Renaissance workshop tradition, allowing artists to refine poses, drapery, and expressions before committing to grand oil paintings, reflecting V...