The art critic and presenter Waldemar Januszczak called him ‘a tumultuous genius.’ His nickname was ‘Il Furioso.’ Walk around 53 churches or other institutions in Venice and you will find at least one Tintoretto in each. You’ll quickly understand the labels that have been attached to him.
I finally made it, for the first time, to Venice last week and saw something I have waited a very long time to see: the Scuola Grande di San Rocco with the magnificent cycle of paintings by Tintoretto that it houses. I first fell for Tintoretto (1518-1594, Venice), who appeals to my artistic sensibility above all others, during my second year art history lectures at the University of Newcastle. Perhaps not the slickest and consistent of the Renaissance Mannerist masters he conjures up breathtaking drama with his daringly inventive compositions, clever use of tonal contrasts, colossal scaling, bold exuberant brushstrokes and just plain over the topness. It’s an exciting journey that leaves me a bit breathless and giddy.
From Wikipedia… In 1564 the painter Tintoretto was commissioned to provide paintings for the Scuola, and his most renowned works are to be found in the Sala dell'Albergo and the Sala Superiore. All the works in the building are by him, or his assistants, including his son Domenico: they were executed between 1564 and 1587. Works in the Sala Terra are in homage to the Virgin Mary, and concentrate on episodes from her life. In the Sala Superiore, works on the ceiling are from the Old Testament, and on the walls from the New Testament. Together, they show the biblical story from Fall to Redemption.
