The Delivery of the Ring (Consegna dell'anello al Doge)
Painting on canvas • Paris Bordone (1500–1571)
Style & Movement
Venetian Mannerism / High Renaissance
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing Mannerist techniques including elongated figures, complex spatial depth via linear perspective, colorful glazes, and rich Venetian tonality.
Creation Period
Circa 1534–1540
Dimensions & Format
Large scale, approximately 370 x 301 cm; vertical portrait-oriented rectangular format.
Subject Description
The painting depicts a legendary Venetian scene where a fisherman presents a miraculous ring to the Doge. The ring was supposedly given to the fisherman by Saint Mark during a storm to prove the saint's protection of Venice. The composition features a grand architectural setting inspired by Sansovino and Sebastiano Serlio, with a steep perspective and rows of Venetian dignitaries.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good. The work shows typical aging for a 16th-century canvas, including some stable craquelure and evidence of historical varnish layers.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000 (Estimate based on its status as a Venetian masterpiece of national importance, though it is a museum-held work and not on the private market).
Auction Estimate
$4,000,000 - $8,000,000
Provenance History
Commissioned for the Scuola Grande di San Marco in Venice. It was moved to the Gallerie dell'Accademia during the Napoleonic era following the suppression of the Scuole.
Art Historical Significance
This is considered Paris Bordone's undisputed masterpiece. It is one of the most significant narrative paintings of the Venetian 16th century, showcasing the influence of Titian (his teacher) while establishing Bordone's unique, more decorative and architecturally focused Mannerist style.
Notable Features
The extraordinary use of perspective in the white marble architecture and the intricate rendering of the 'tappeti' (oriental rugs) on the Doge's dais are hallmarks of Bordone's technical virtuosity.
Condition Issues
Visible surface craquelure consistent with age; possible minor darkening of pigments in the architectural shadows; historical restoration involves some old relining to support the large canvas.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (50% RH) and temperature. Professional cleaning to remove oxidized varnish would likely reveal more vibrant secondary colors in the garments.