Portrait of a Man

The unidentified sitter in this portrait painted in Venice in the workshop of Domenico Tintoretto, son of the more famous Jacopo is believed to be a North African ambassador to the Venetian court. The sitter is dressed in European costume, although the white sash around his waist is not typical of Venetian dress. The rectangular package on the table next to him, likely a bundle of letters secured with a wax seal may indicate his role as a diplomat or an envoy. According to contemporary sources, Domenico's studio was often visited by diplomats who wished to commission portraits.