Venetian Ships Attacking Constantinople

1598/1605

Domenico Tintoretto

Associated Names
Domenico Tintoretto

Artist, Venetian, 1560 - 1635

This is a painting of a maritime scene featuring boats and figures engaged in various activities. The composition includes vessels with red canopies and oars, crowded with small figures. Three large figures are shown in action on the boats' masts or rigging. The lower part of the composition portrays a congregation of figures, with a sketchy style using muted colors of ochres and greys. Broad brushstrokes and dramatic contrasts enhance the sense of action.

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Sohn-Rethel Collection, Rome, 1926. (Douwes Fine Art Ltd., London); Wolfgang Ratjen [1947-1997], Vaduz and Munich; purchased 2007 by NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1995

  • Fünfzig italienische Zeichnungen des 16. - 18. Jahrhunderts aus der Stiftung Ratjen, Vaduz. Liechtensteinischen Staatlichen Kunstsammlung, Vaduz. Bern, 1995, no. 9.

1996

  • Italian Drawings from the Ratjen Foundation, Vaduz. The Frick Collection, New York. Bern, 1996, no. 9.

2011

  • Italian Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1525-1835, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2011, no. 19.

2014

  • The Poetry of Light - La poesia della luce: Venetian Drawings from the National Gallery of Art, Museo Correr, Venice, Venice, 2014 - 2015, no. 37.

2018

  • Drawing in Tintoretto's Venice, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2018 - 2019, no. 61 (fig. 129), repro.

Bibliography

1944

  • Tietze, Hans, and Erika Tietze-Conrat. The Drawings of the Venetian Painters in the 15th and 16th Centuries. New York, 1944: 267, no. 1546 bis.

1995

  • Lachenmann, David. Fünfzig italienische Zeichnungen des 16. - 18. Jahrhunderts aus der Stiftung Ratjen, Vaduz. Vaduz, 1995: no. 9.

1996

  • Lachenmann, David. Italian Drawings from the Ratjen Foundation, Vaduz. Exh. cat. The Frick Collection, New York. Bern, 1996: no. 9.

2001

  • Roettig, Petra, Annamarie Stefes, and Andreas Stolzenburg. Von Dürer bis Goya: 100 Meisterzeichnungen aus dem Kupferstichkabinett der Hamburger Kunsthalle. Hamburger Kunsthalle. Hamburg, 2001: 42-43, under no. 16 (entry by Stolzenburg).

2008

  • Klemm, David, Hubertus Gassner, and Andreas Stolzenburg. Von Leonardo bis Piranesi: Italienische Zeichnungen von 1450 bis 1800 aus dem Kupferstichkabinett der Hamburger Kunsthalle. Hamburger Kunsthalle. Bremen, 2008: 124, 229 note 2, under no. 55 (entry by Klemm).

2009

  • Klemm, David. Italienische Zeichnungen 1450-1800. Die Sammlungen der Hamburger Kunsthalle Kupferstichkabinett, Bd. 2. 3 vols. Cologne, 2009, 1: 348, under no. 530.

2011

  • Italian Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection 1525-1835. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2011: 52-55.

2018

  • Marciari, John.Drawing in Tintoretto's Venice. Exh. cat. Morgan Library & Museum, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2018-2019: 161, no. 61 (fig. 129)

Wikidata ID

Q64541083

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