ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Glorification of the Barbaro Family

ca. 1750
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 642
Once part of a ceiling decoration at Venice’s Palazzo Barbaro, this painting was never intended to be seen head-on or at such close range. The mental leaps necessary to reimagine it high overhead, however, replicates Tiepolo’s process: through drawings and oil sketches that solved issues of color distribution, composition, perspective, and his patron’s approval, Tiepolo foresaw highly site-specific demands. The trumpet, outstretched arm, and foreshortened central figure gave the false impression that the ceiling opened to the sky. Tiepolo was adept at allegorizing his patrons through figures that include Valor, Fame, and Glory.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Glorification of the Barbaro Family
  • Artist: Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Italian, Venice 1696–1770 Madrid)
  • Date: ca. 1750
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: Irregular oval, 96 x 183 3/4 in. (243.8 x 466.7 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Anonymous Gift, in memory of Oliver H. Payne, 1923
  • Object Number: 23.128
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
The Glorification of the Barbaro Family
Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
ca. 1750
Adoration of the Magi, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, Etching
Adoration of the Magi
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
ca. 1753 (?)
Half-dressed Nymph with two children, surrounded by four men, from the Scherzi, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, Etching
Half-dressed Nymph with two children, surrounded by four men, from the Scherzi
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
ca. 1743–50
St. Joseph with the Child Jesus
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
The Family of the oriental Peasant, from the Scherzi, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo Italian, Etching
The Family of the oriental Peasant, from the Scherzi
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
ca. 1740

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 6

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.