Artwork
Self-portrait with madrigal
Self-portrait with madrigal is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Marietta Robusti. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
The canvas presents a young woman seated before a small keyboard instrument, her left hand clasping a bound collection of songs while her right fingers rest on the spinet’s keys. Dressed in a luminous white gown accented with pearls, she is set against a deep, unadorned backdrop that isolates her figure and emphasizes the quiet act of music-making.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is identified as Marietta Robusti, the daughter of the renowned Venetian painter Tintoretto, portraying herself as both artist and musician. By holding a madrigal—a popular secular vocal form of the period—she aligns herself with contemporary cultural refinement, suggesting an intellectual engagement with the arts that extends beyond painting alone.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the work displays hallmarks of late‑Renaissance Mannerism: elongated proportions, elegant gestures, and a subtle play of light that models the figure against the dark ground. The delicate rendering of textiles and pearls demonstrates a refined handling of texture, while the muted palette focuses attention on the central activity.
History & Provenance
Created around 1590, the painting entered the Uffizi Gallery’s collection, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Robusti has been affirmed through stylistic comparison with other signed works and archival references linking the portrait to the artist’s known self‑representations.
Context
In late‑sixteenth‑century Venice, women of artistic families often received training in multiple disciplines. This self‑portrait reflects that environment, illustrating how a female painter could assert her professional identity through the visual language of music, a socially acceptable outlet for educated women of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marietta Robusti (1560? – 1590) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance period. She was the daughter of Tintoretto (Jacobo Robusti) and sometimes, is referred to as Tintoretta.
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