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c. 1558

Archbishop Filippo Archinto

Titian (Tiziano Vecellio)

Italian (active Venice), first securely documented 1508, died 1576

The unusual portrayal of this man can be explained by facts known about his life. Archinto was appointed archbishop of Milan in 1556, but political troubles prevented his taking possession of the post. The veil obscuring him from view stands for these difficulties. The episcopal ring, which the artist carefully reveals just outside the veil, symbolizes Archinto's legal right to office.

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Resources

The John G. Johnson Collection: A History and Selected Works

This online scholarly publication examines one of the finest collections of European art ever to have been formed in the United States by a private collector.
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Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), Archbishop Filippo Archinto, c. 1558 | Philadelphia Art Museum