Artwork
Summer
Summer is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Tintoretto. It dates from 1547 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Tintoretto’s oil on canvas titled *Summer*, dated around 1547, belongs to the Mannerist phase of the late Italian Renaissance. The work presents a reclining female figure set against a verdant landscape, under a blue sky punctuated with clouds. A parrot on a branch and two small birds in nearby foliage complete the scene, which conveys a quiet, pastoral atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a young woman lying on a cloth, her right arm supporting her head while her left hand grasps the fabric. She wears a pink and white dress, and her blonde hair is styled in a braid. The inclusion of the parrot and other birds, together with the lush vegetation, suggests an allegorical reference to the season of summer and its associations with abundance and leisure.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting displays Tintoretto’s vigorous brushwork and the elongated, muscular forms typical of his Mannerist approach. The composition combines the luminous color palette of Venetian painting with exaggerated gestures and a dynamic spatial arrangement, creating a sense of movement within an otherwise tranquil setting.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑16th century, *Summer* reflects Tintoretto’s reputation as “il Furioso,” a nickname earned for his energetic execution. The work has remained within the oeuvre of the Venetian master, illustrating his synthesis of coloristic richness and the stylized forms that marked his later career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Robusti (late September or early October 1518 – 31 May 1594), best known as Tintoretto ( TIN-tə-RET-oh; Italian: ; Venetian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school.
