DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68745#0051
CHAPTER III
THE MAN AND HIS LIFE—II
TWO letters are preserved in the State archives of Venice.1
‘ To the illustrious and excellent Heads of the Council of
Ten. If I, Giacomo Robusti, tentoretto, your Lordships’
humblest and most devoted servant, possessed powers to correspond
to my ardent desires, no one should have surpassed me in faithful
service. I have always known myself to fall below my affection
and ardent wish to serve you, but I have not fallen short of doing
what my impotence would allow. As soon therefore as I heard
the happy news of your Lordships’ most glorious victory, in which
I had no power to share by pouring out my own blood, I hastened
to spend a part of that I had, in time past, allotted to the
needs of my poor and devoted family. I executed the painting
of the aforesaid glorious battle, which your grace has placed in
the Sala del Scortinio, in eternal memory of the imperial power.
I recognize your Excellencies’ magnanimity in accepting my little
gift, and I am sure your illustrious Lordships will accord me leave
to live for your service, offering the study placed in the halls of
the Council of Ten without other reward except for the colours
and canvas required.
I, however, humbly supplicate the illustrious Council of its
grace to concede me the first vacancy in the Fontego di todeschi,
and in order that it may be a support to my poor family, to enter
it in the name of one of my sons or daughters, or of a nephew.’
27 September 1574.
‘ I, Jacomo Tentoretto, your illustrious Lordships’ humblest
servant, having had leave to place in the Salla del Scortinio the
1 For originals see Appendix iv. The compliments have been slightly abridged in the
translation.
23
THE MAN AND HIS LIFE—II
TWO letters are preserved in the State archives of Venice.1
‘ To the illustrious and excellent Heads of the Council of
Ten. If I, Giacomo Robusti, tentoretto, your Lordships’
humblest and most devoted servant, possessed powers to correspond
to my ardent desires, no one should have surpassed me in faithful
service. I have always known myself to fall below my affection
and ardent wish to serve you, but I have not fallen short of doing
what my impotence would allow. As soon therefore as I heard
the happy news of your Lordships’ most glorious victory, in which
I had no power to share by pouring out my own blood, I hastened
to spend a part of that I had, in time past, allotted to the
needs of my poor and devoted family. I executed the painting
of the aforesaid glorious battle, which your grace has placed in
the Sala del Scortinio, in eternal memory of the imperial power.
I recognize your Excellencies’ magnanimity in accepting my little
gift, and I am sure your illustrious Lordships will accord me leave
to live for your service, offering the study placed in the halls of
the Council of Ten without other reward except for the colours
and canvas required.
I, however, humbly supplicate the illustrious Council of its
grace to concede me the first vacancy in the Fontego di todeschi,
and in order that it may be a support to my poor family, to enter
it in the name of one of my sons or daughters, or of a nephew.’
27 September 1574.
‘ I, Jacomo Tentoretto, your illustrious Lordships’ humblest
servant, having had leave to place in the Salla del Scortinio the
1 For originals see Appendix iv. The compliments have been slightly abridged in the
translation.
23