The glorification of the Giustiniani family
Tiepolo, Giovanni Domenico (1727-1804)
Item type:paintingDate of creation:1784-1785Height:116.8 cm (46 in.)Width:82.6 cm (32 1/2 in.)Technique / Medium:oil on canvasDescription
Seated on the throne at the head of the stairs is the personification of the Ligurian Republic, flanked by Justice and Lanterna (the lighthouse at the entrance to the port of Genoa); at the top of the staircase are marble statues of Hercules and Minerva and just below (to the left) is Jacopo Giustiniani kneeling, dressed in armor, and accompanied by winged Victory; he presents to the Ligurian Republic the sword surrendered to him by King Alfonso of Aragon; to the right two banners with coats-of-arms of the Giustiniani family (a crowned eagle over a tower) and of the city of Genoa(a crowned red cross); at the left corner a turbaned female figure in Greek costume (representing the island of Chios, which was under the Giustanianis' rule before it fell to the Turks); to her left the heraldic emblems of the Giustiniani family; near the upper left corner are the eighteen Giustiniani youths who were massacred by the Turks in 1566 because they refused to abandon their Christian faith, and above them are angels with palms of martyrdom, and allegorical figures; one angel blowing straight trumpets, and Virtue also blowing a straight trumpet and holding another trumpet in left hand; in the upper right corner a ship full of rich merchandise is unloaded at the foot of a rock; on this rock is Janus seated (symbol of the city of Genoa), and near him three female allegorical figures (Justice, Commerce, and Fortitude); just below Neptune offering Janus the treasures of the sea; grouped along right side figures in oriental costumes representing the commercial enterprises and military feats of the Giustiniani family in Asia Minor and in the islands of the Greek Archipelago.
Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)
End-blown trumpet [6556] (Four trumpets depicted)
RIdIM images
Image URLs
image link 1RIdIM record id
3675
