The Glorification of the Giustiniani Family, Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1783)
Tiepolo’s The Glorification of the Giustiniani Family served as a preparatory oil sketch for an ambitious ceiling fresco commissioned for the ducal palace in Genoa, Italy. The composition bursts with allegorical figures and flowing movement, celebrating the prestige and influence of the Giustiniani family. At the center, a kneeling patriarch of the family faces a personification of Liguria, the Italian region tied to the family’s origins, while nearby stands a female figure symbolizing Chios—an island historically linked to the Giustiniani lineage through trade and governance. Surrounding them, classical gods and mythological figures add a layer of symbolic grandeur, underscoring the family’s noble status and achievements.
This work exemplifies the Rococo style with its vibrant palette, theatrical arrangement, and fluid, expressive brushwork. Tiepolo’s expert handling of perspective and his inclusion of celestial motifs give the scene an airy, expansive feel that was ideal for its intended placement on a ceiling. By blending allegory with portraiture, the painting elevates the Giustiniani’s heritage into a near-divine celebration, transforming their legacy into a visually stunning spectacle of power and grace.
Cotton and polyester canvas on Radiata pine wood frame sourced from renewable forests. Includes back mounting.
