Tintoretto

Tintoretto

Jacopo Robusti, known as Tintoretto, was an Italian Renaissance painter from the Venetian school. He lived from late September or early October 1518 until 31 May 1594.

Tintoretto was famous for how quickly he could paint and for his bold and energetic style. Because of his speed and energy, people called him "il Furioso," which means "the Furious" in Italian.

His paintings are known for strong, moving figures and dramatic actions. He painted in a style called Mannerism, which was popular at the time. Many of his contemporaries admired his work, but some also criticized it because it was so different and bold. Today, Tintoretto is remembered as one of the most exciting painters of the Renaissance.

Life

Tintoretto was born in Venice in 1518. His father was a dyer, so he was called "Tintoretto," meaning "little dyer." He had a brother named Domenico. Not much is known about his early life or training. He studied on his own and worked hard to learn art.

One of his early teachers was Titian, but Titian stopped working with him after a few days. After that, Tintoretto kept learning by himself. He made drawings and studied art carefully. He became known for working very quickly and creating bold paintings.

Tintoretto began getting jobs for his paintings when he was young. Some of his early works have sadly been lost over time. But some of his paintings still exist today, like "The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple" in Venice. He also painted scenes from the Bible.

In 1548, Tintoretto got a big job to paint a large decoration for a group called the Scuola di S. Marco. This painting made him very famous. He then got many more jobs to paint for churches and important buildings.

Later in life, Tintoretto painted many works for the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. He worked very fast and used helpers to finish some of his bigger projects. One of his biggest works was a huge painting called "Paradise" for the Doge's Palace in Venice. It was one of the largest paintings ever made on canvas. People loved this painting when it was finished.

Pupils

Tintoretto had very few students. His daughter, Marietta, and his two sons were among them, along with Maerten de Vos from Antwerp. Marietta grew up with her father and became a good artist. His son Domenico Tintoretto often helped his father get ready for big paintings. Domenico made many works, but they are not as famous as his father's.

Influence

The Greek painter El Greco of the Spanish Renaissance may have seen Tintoretto's art when he visited Venice. This might have changed El Greco's own painting style.

Personality

Tintoretto hardly ever left Venice. His early biographers said he was very smart and very eager to be the best.

He liked many arts. When he was young, he played the lute and other instruments he made himself. He also made costumes and props for theater shows. He learned about machines and mechanical devices. Though he was friendly, he usually stayed in his workroom with models he used for painting. He rarely let anyone in, even close friends, and kept his painting methods secret, sharing them only with his helpers. He liked to say clever things to everyone but rarely smiled himself.

He had many friends among writers and publishers, including Pietro Aretino, who was one of his first important supporters.

Marriages and children

Around 1560, Tintoretto married his second wife, Faustina de Vescovi, the daughter of a Venetian nobleman who was an important leader of the Scuola Grande di San Marco. Faustina and Tintoretto had many children. Three of their sons (Domenico, Marco, and Zuan Battista) and four of their daughters (Gierolima, Lucrezia, Ottavia, and Laura) grew up. Faustina helped keep their home organized and supported Tintoretto in many ways.

Before marrying Faustina, Tintoretto had a daughter named Marietta Robusti. Marietta became a skilled painter, learning from her father. She was also good at music. Marietta helped her father with his work. She later married a jeweller named Mario Augusta.

Tintoretto became very sick in 1594. He passed away on May 31, 1594. He was buried next to his daughter Marietta in the church of Madonna dell'Orto. Marietta had passed away in 1590.

Style

Tintoretto's paintings are famous for their bold brushwork and long, sweeping strokes. He often shows people in motion, using dramatic angles to create excitement. The story in his paintings is told through the actions of the people, not their faces.

One famous example is his painting Saint George, Saint Louis, and the Princess. In this painting, the princess sits on the dragon and holds a whip. This surprising twist changes the usual story. Tintoretto also painted many portraits, and some critics think his portraits of older men were especially good. He painted himself twice, showing a more relaxed style in his self-portraits.

Legacy

In 2013, the Victoria and Albert Museum found that the painting The Embarkation of St Helena in the Holy Land was made by Tintoretto, not by another artist named Andrea Schiavone.

In 2019, to honor Tintoretto’s birthday, the National Gallery of Art in Washington worked with the Gallerie dell'Accademia to hold a special exhibition that traveled. This was the first time such an exhibit was in the United States. It had nearly 50 paintings and more than a dozen works on paper from Tintoretto’s career. The pieces included portraits of Venetian nobles and scenes from religious and mythological stories.