Tintoretto's Weird Style

Earlier paintings by Tintoretto seem constructed with a more mainstream technique with a fuller palette. These are rather boring.

Many of his works can be seen at the following site: http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/t/tintoret/2religio/index.html

Starting with the 1560's, however, Tintoretto's works become more and more scumbling over a dark background. See Ascent to Calgary, 1566-67.

In many cases the backgrounds are visible through structures, like buildings, that should be opaque. For example

For the background coming through, look up 'pentimento' , say at http://www.artlex.com. Oil paints become increasingly translucent over time; since Tintoretto was painting not all that long after the popularization of oil paint, he may not have been aware of the effect, or at least the extent to which it would occur.. I would assume that the easel painting techniques of the time still heavily depended on those developed for tempera painting, which is more opaque..

Chris

thanks for your response. Pentimento does not seem to be evident in the Titians painted at the same period. In only one Titian that I looked at, at the 'artchive' site, did I see a strange line.

It could be that Titian was simply a more certain and less hesitant painter - so that he didn't rework the original designs of his paintings to the same extent as Tintoretto. I'm not sure, but if you'd like to take up a collection for me to go to Italy and study the problem, I think I could spare a year or two

I'm not sure, but if you'd like to take up a

Yes, I will, but taking up the collection would require investment capital for extra phone lines for telephone soliciting and fees to mass mailers advertising your plight. I will get started as soon as this is in place.