On the question about Jacopo Tintoretto's triptych 'Fourteen Members of the Soranzo Family': Giacomo Soranzo

M.V. Tretyakova

Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Arzamas Branch,

Arzamas, 607220 Russia

E-mail: marinatretyakova@mail.ru

Received October 16, 2019

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DOI: 10.26907/2541-7738.2020.3.111-119

For citation: Tretyakova M.V. On the question about Jacopo Tintoretto’s triptych “Fourteen Members of the Soranzo Family”: Giacomo Soranzo. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki, 2020, vol. 162, no. 3, pp. 111–119. doi: 10.26907/2541-7738.2020.3.111-119. (In Russian)

Abstract

The plot of Jacopo Tintoretto’s triptych “Fourteen Members of the Soranzo Family” was studied. The paintings are stored in the Pinacoteca of Milan (Italy). The Soranzo clan was the patron of Jacopo Tintoretto. The biography of Giacomo Soranzo, one of the grandsons of Jacopo Soranzo – the central person of the triptych, was discussed. The interest in the problem under consideration was fueled by the final report (Relazione) of Giacomo Soranzo, where he summarizes the results of his diplomatic mission in England during 1551–1554, especially the passage where the Venetian nobleman appeals to the Venetian Doge and the government with a request to leave at his disposal the gold chains that he received as a gift and as a reward from Edward VI and Mary I, the English monarchs. The sensitivity of the situation is that the Venetian law obliged ambassadors to hand over all gifts received during the execution of the embassy to the state when they finish their missions. However, Giacomo Soranzo believed that he was entitled to the award due to his special merits. Traditionally, it was thought that Giacomo Soranzo’s request was not granted. At the same time, Jacopo Tintoretto’s triptych depicting Giacomo Soranzo with a chain having a Tudor rose testifies to the contrary. It was concluded that Giacomo Soranzo might have kept the rewards received from the English monarchs, but there is no full confidence in this, because Jacopo Tintoretto could have depicted the symbolic possession of the award in the desire to meet the wishes of the customer/customers.

Keywords: Jacopo Tintoretto, triptych, Milan, Soranzo clan, Giacomo Soranzo

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