Jacopo (Robusti) Tintoretto, born in 1518, was one of the greatest painters of the Venetian school and probably the last great painter of the Italian Renaissance. In his youth he was also called Jacopo Robusti, as his father had defended the gates of Padua in a rather robust way against the imperial troops.
His real name “Comin” has only recently been discovered by Miguel Falomir, the curator of the Prado, Madrid and has been made public at the occasion of the retrospective of Tintoretto at the Prado, opening on 29 January 2007.
Comin translates to the spice “cumin” in the local language. For his phenomenal energy in painting he was termed Il Furioso, and his dramatic use of perspectival space and special lighting effects make him a precursor of baroque art. His father, Giovanni, was a dyer, or tintore; hence the son got the nickname of Tintoretto, little dyer, or dyer’s boy, which is Anglicized as Tintoret.
Tintoretto scarcely ever travelled out of Venice. He loved all the arts, played in youth the lute and various instruments, some of them of his own invention, and designed theatrical costumes and properties, was versed in mechanics and mechanical devices, and was a very agreeable companion. For the sake of his work he lived in a most retired fashion, and even when not painting was wont to remain in his working room surrounded by casts.
Here he hardly admitted any, even intimate friends, and he kept his modes of work secret, save as regards his assistants. He abounded in pleasant witty sayings whether to great personages or to others, but no smile hovered on his lips. He died in 1594.
Amazon.com
Jacopo Tintoretto The Crucifixion 1565 Scuola Grande di San Rocco - Venice 30" x 13" Fine Art Giclee Canvas Print (Unframed) Reproduction
Jacopo Tintoretto Palazzo Ducale Sala del Maggior Consiglio - Paradise 1590 Palazzo Ducale di Venezia 30" x 17" Fine Art Giclee Canvas Print (Unframed)...
Jacopo Tintoretto Christ on The Sea of Galilee 1580 National Gallery of Art - Washington DC 30" x 21" Fine Art Giclee Canvas Print (Unframed) Reproduction
Jacopo Tintoretto The Madonna of The Stars 1550-1590 National Gallery of Art Washington DC 24" x 19" Fine Art Giclee Canvas Print (Unframed) Reproduction
Jacopo Tintoretto Portrait of a Young Man 1545 Royal Collection Trust UK Hampton Court Palace 24" x 20" Fine Art Giclee Canvas Print (Unframed) Reproduction
Jacopo Tintoretto Esther Before Ahasuerus 1546-1547 Royal Collection Trust UK Windsor Castle 24" x 18" Fine Art Giclee Canvas Print (Unframed) Reproduction
Jacopo Tintoretto Doge Alvise Mocenigo 1507-1577 Presented to The Redeemer 1577 Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY 24" x 12" Fine Art Giclee Canvas...
