Domenico Robusti, called Domenico Tintoretto

Margaret F. Schroeder;
By whose Estate donated to the Fogg Art Museum (acc. no. 18.1973);
By whom sold, New York, Sotheby's, 24 January 2008, lot 217;
There purchased by the present owner. 

This canvas has been lined using wax as an adhesive. The paint layer is stable but the lining is lumpy and some further attention to the lining would improve the surface. Some restorations have been applied but they could also be adjusted to blend in more seamlessly with the original paint. The upper left corner has a fairly large restoration situated an inch or two from the left edge running down the left side into the background. Similarly on the right side there is a restoration running through the inscription from the crest down to the lower right background. In the face of the sitter, restorations address losses across the bridge of his nose, in both cheeks and in his forehead. The restorations for the most part are visible to the naked eye. If the restoration were to be reexamined, not only in the lining but in the retouching also, the picture would improve greatly.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

When last sold (see Provenance) Professor Paola Rossi identified this portrait to be a work by Domenico Tintoretto, based on photographs. The sitter, Giovanni Bembo was elected 92^nd Doge of Venice in 1615, but he held the position for only three years until his death in 1618. Before his election, Bembo was renowned as an efficient admiral, who defeated the Uskoks pirates, who, from their strategic location on the Croatian coast, had been wreaking havoc on the commerce of the Adriatic for much of the 16th century. The Bembo family, of ancient noble Venetian lineage, boasted many illustrious members, including the 16th century scholar and cardinal, Pietro Bembo (1470 - 1547).

An attribution to Jacopo Palma il Giovane (Venice circa 1548-1628) has also previously been suggested for this portrait.