About this artwork
This drawing was a preparatory study for a figure in a large painting showing the Doge (leader) of Venice giving thanks to the Virgin Mary for victory in the naval Battle of Lepanto (1571). The battle was between the Turks of the Ottoman Empire and the coalition of the Holy League, which consisted of Venice, Spain, Naples and the Papal States among others. This Christian fleet defeated the Turks, and The Holy League claimed their victory was due to the Virgin Mary asking God to secure their victory. So great was the thanks given to the Virgin following the triumph that Pope Pius V declared a new Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Victory. This reverence of the Virgin is reflected in the finished painting for which Palma made this sketch.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Palma Giovane (Jacopo Palma Il Giovane) (about 1548 - 1628) Italian
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title:A Man Seen from Behind
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date created:About 1596
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materials:Black chalk, heightened with white, on blue paper, laid down
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measurements:29.20 x 16.10 cm
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object type:
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credit line:David Laing Bequest to the Royal Scottish Academy on loan 1966
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accession number:RSA 309
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gallery:
Palma Giovane (Jacopo Palma Il Giovane)
Palma Giovane (Jacopo Palma Il Giovane)
Palma was born into a Venetian family of artists. His father Antonio ran a successful workshop, and his great uncle was the renowned painter Palma Vecchio. In spite of this, Palma Giovane was virtually self-taught. In 1567 he caught the eye of the Duke of Urbino, whose patronage allowed him to...
