70 - Tiberio Tinelli (Venice 1587–1639), attributed

Tiberio Tinelli (Venice 1587–1639), attributed Portrait of a Venetian Magistrate Oil on canvas 206 x 125 cm The painting reveals all of Tinelli’s characteristic portraiture styles; the face reflects the naturalism of Leandro Bassano and his introspective approach, while the color palette of the robe and the curtain fully captures the influence of Van Dyck. A useful example supporting the attribution can be found in the *Portrait of a Prelate in Chasuble*, which was offered in Christie’s London online auction from September 23 to October 7, 2020, where the measured pose and Van Dyck’s influences are similarly evident. Equally useful is a comparison of the faces, where one can discern the same “dry” painting technique and the Bassan-esque spirit inherent in the faces, between the painting presented here and the Portrait of a Gentleman, which was sold at Christie’s on October 4, 1995, in Florence. Tinelli trained under Giovanni Contarini, learning from his master the principles of the great Titian’s school. Later, perhaps, he moved to Leandro Bassano’s workshop, where he completed his training. He was the most important Venetian portraitist of the early 17th century; high-ranking officials of the Republic, aristocrats, wealthy merchants, and the most eminent Venetian intellectuals posed for him. Initially, his portraits were influenced by Bassano’s descriptive style, a style that evolved with the arrival in Venice of Bernardo Strozzi and Anton van Dyck. In addition to his career as a portraitist, he also produced small paintings depicting historical and mythological subjects, which were highly prized by collectors of the time. Some of his works found their way into the royal collections of Louis XIII, King of France. Tiberio Tinelli (Venice 1587–1639) attributed Portrait of a Venetian Magistrate Oil on canvas 206 x 125 cm The painting reveals all of Tinelli’s characteristic portraiture styles; the face hints at the naturalism of Leandro Bassano and his introspective approach, while the color scheme of the robe and the curtain fully reflects the influence of Van Dyck. A useful example supporting the attribution can be found in the *Portrait of a Prelate in Chasuble*, which was offered in Christie’s London online auction from September 23 to October 7, 2020, where the measured pose and the influences of Van Dyck are similarly evident. Equally useful is a comparison of the faces, where one can discern the same “dry” painting technique and the inherent Bassan-esque spirit of the faces between the painting presented here and the Portrait of a Gentleman, which was sold at Christie’s on October 4, 1995, in Florence.