Head of Giuliano de’ Medici c. 1540s

Curator: This intriguing charcoal drawing is believed to be Jacopo Tintoretto's "Head of Giuliano de’ Medici," dating from the 1540s. What strikes you most about it? Editor: Its monumentality, despite the modest scale. The upward gaze, the strategic highlighting—it gives the subject a godlike quality. The loose hatching emphasizes volume beautifully. Curator: It’s interesting that you perceive it that way. I am compelled to ask what exactly is the socio-political power Tintoretto attempts to attribute to his muse by drawing Giuliano looking towards the heavens? Is the artist highlighting his achievements, or making the sitter seem submissive? Editor: Possibly, but I see it as a masterful study in chiaroscuro. The way light models the face, particularly around the nose and cheekbones, is simply stunning. It conveys weight, presence, pure form. Curator: Indeed. But shouldn’t we consider the Medici's historical role? Giuliano was a prominent figure during a tumultuous period. Consider the implications of representing power during a period of great social inequity when his family’s patronage was both celebrated and used as a tool of influence. Editor: I cannot ignore that Tintoretto might be alluding to something regarding class and/or gender. His representation makes no attempt to show the ‘real’ Giuliano—Tintoretto instead plays with idealised representations to aggrandize its subject Curator: Exactly. Editor: Though that said, what I enjoy most is observing the interplay between precision and freedom in the artist’s technique. See how some areas are rendered with delicate detail, and then fade off quickly. Curator: Right, and understanding the symbolism of representing powerful elites becomes a practice of interpreting their identity. What statements about power were possible to create, given the class and political background of its patrons? Editor: Yes, interesting indeed! The interplay between the ideal and real and then, the artist’s touch adds layers of complexity. Curator: By merging political history with nuanced technical rendering, this work by Tintoretto captures a crucial time while leaving space for modern perspectives. Editor: Absolutely, there’s just so much more to this work than a face in charcoal.