Venetian School, 18th century

This intriguing portrait of a young man raises a host of questions, chief among them regarding the sitter's identity. The arms at upper right (featuring a faded red ring on a white field) appear to connect the work with the Barbaro family, among the most important of the Venetian patriciate. But the nature of the connection between the sitter and the Barbaro remains enigmatic: was he a visiting dignitary whom they hosted or was he a member of their household? The inclusion of the painted porcelain cup and saucer (probably produced in China for export to Europe) likely containing either hot chocolate, tea, or coffee (all prized delicacies that were similarly imported to Italy from abroad) underscores Venice's important role as a vital center of cross-cultural exchange, a meeting space for people and commodities from across the globe.