In Council and Commerce: A Venetian Senator in Robes of Office, 1847
€ 160
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Date
1847
Sheet size
27 × 18 cm (10.6 × 7.1 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-13635-17
Condition
Good. Overal very light toning and light soiling but the image itself clean and hand-colored almost 200 years ago and still in expliciet colors. Aged paper with typically warm, yellowish-brown hue, mostly around the edges. Study the image carefully.
About this sheet
The image portrays a figure labeled "Sénateur Vénitien," which translates to "Venetian Senator." The Venetian senator is shown in a profile view, wearing traditional senatorial robes.
He is dressed in a long, flowing red cloak with a white fur trim, which was often a sign of high status and office. The cloak is open at the front, revealing a dark undergarment that could be a robe or gown. On his head, he wears a red biretta, a square cap that was commonly worn by academics, clerics, and in this case, members of the government in Renaissance Italy.
The senator's attire reflects the wealth and power of Venice during its heyday as a maritime republic. His demeanor is dignified and his posture upright, suggesting the gravity and importance of his position within the Venetian Republic.
The title captures the dual roles of Venetian senators, who were often as much businessmen as they were political figures, and the grandeur of their attire reflective of their influence in the republic.
Egg whites can be applied as a varnish over pigments to enhance their brightness and to protect the colors. This application could make the colors appear more vivid and also add a slight glossy sheen to the surface of the image.
Egg yolk, on the other hand, was commonly used as a binding agent in paint. It forms the basis of tempera paint, a medium that was widely used before the advent of oil painting. Egg yolk helps to create a durable and long-lasting color that adheres well to various surfaces.
In the context of the print from 1847, it's less likely that egg whites or yolks were used directly on the print, as by that time, commercial printing processes would have been more advanced and less reliant on such manual methods. However, if this print is a representation of an earlier style or is meant to mimic the appearance of hand-painted manuscripts, the original artists might have employed techniques or materials that gave a similar effect to those achieved with egg-based binders and varnishes.
