Artwork
Portrait Presumed to Be of Antonio Zantani

Portrait Presumed to Be of Antonio Zantani is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Tintoretto. It dates from 1555 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1555 within the Venetian school tradition, the painting presents its subject in a manner consistent with the genre of portraiture from that period.
The work is a portrait depicting a man identified in sources as Antonio Centani, though the title refers to him as Antonio Zantani. Created in 1555 within the Venetian school tradition, the painting presents its subject in a manner consistent with the genre of portraiture from that period. The identity of the sitter remains a point of variation in attribution, with some records listing the name Centani while the title suggests Zantani.
As a portrait, the primary function of the work is to represent this specific individual, capturing his likeness during the mid-16th century in Venice.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1555, this portrait is an oil painting on panel created by Jacopo Tintoretto in Venice. The work measures 31.8 cm in height and 24.3 cm in width. Stylistically, it is associated with the Venetian school of painting. The composition functions as a portrait, depicting the subject identified as Antonio Centani.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created by Jacopo Tintoretto in 1555 in Venice, executed in oil on panel. It depicts Antonio Centani and belongs to the Venetian school of portraiture. The painting entered the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is currently held.
No further details about the original commission, early ownership, or chain of custody prior to the Art Institute of Chicago's acquisition are documented in the available sources.
The Portrait Presumed to Be of Antonio Zantani is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work is an oil painting on panel created in 1555, attributed to Jacopo Tintoretto. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Additionally, no exhibition history is recorded in the available documentation.
Legacy
The portrait's attribution to Jacopo Tintoretto within the Venetian school has reinforced his reputation as a master of late Renaissance portraiture, influencing scholarly assessments of his oeuvre and technical experimentation. Its inclusion in the Art Institute of Chicago collection has ensured continued public and academic attention, cementing its role in narratives about Venetian artistic identity. The work is frequently cited in studies of 16th-century Venetian portraiture, underscoring its significance in art-historical discourse.
Overview
Jacopo Tintoretto painted this portrait in 1555, employing oil on canvas to render a half-length figure. The work is part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s late‑Renaissance output, marked by a heightened sense of movement and theatricality.
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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.

















