Vita del Tintoretto 1642

This is an engraving from Carlo Ridolfi's biography of the Venetian painter Tintoretto, dating from the mid-17th century. It's a book, an early work of art history, and that tells us a lot about how artists gained social status in this period. Ridolfi's book aimed to cement Tintoretto's reputation. Note the portrait of the artist, framed by an inscription celebrating him as a 'celebrated painter and citizen of Venice'. Venice, at this time, had a highly developed artistic culture. The institutions of the city, such as the guilds and the academy, played a key role in training artists and shaping their careers. It's interesting to consider how Ridolfi's biography may have been influenced by these institutional structures. To understand the full significance of this engraving, we need to look at the context in which it was made. Art historical research involves exploring the social and institutional forces that shaped the production and reception of art.