Minneapolis Institute of Art

Portrait of Morosina Morosini

Workshop of Jacopo Tintoretto; Depicted: Dogaressa Morosina Morosini-Grimani

Date

1578

Medium

Oil on canvas

Department

European Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The subject of this portrait is the Dogaressa Morosina Morosini (1545–1614). Dogaressa is the title given to the wife of the Doge of Venice, the elected ruler of the republic. The accompanying portrait of her husband, Doge Marino Grimani, is in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. From a prominent and wealthy patrician family, Morosini was a patron of the city’s lace industry. She is depicted in a stylish burgundy velvet dress with ruffled lace sleeves and translucent tulle over the shoulders. Notice how the landscape in the window behind the Dogaressa is continued in the background window of the Doge’s portrait. The swaths of silk also link the portraits, acting as bookends that enclose the couple. Whereas Grimani’s portrait was painted by Tintoretto himself, Morosini’s was executed by Tintoretto’s assistants. The pair of paintings date from before Grimani’s election as doge in 1595. Italy, Europe

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.