Francesco Tironi Venice 1745 - 1797

The only documented works by Francesco Tironi are a series of drawings of Venice, produced by the artist for a set of twenty-four engravings by Antonio Sandi, published in 1785. The drawings are held in various museums throughout the world (Albertina, Vienna; National Gallery of Art, Washington; Robert Lehman Collection, New York) as well as in private collections. They demonstrate the influence of contemporary Venetian vedutisti on Tironi's style and this is also visible in his paintings. The influence of Canaletto is particularly obvious in the foreground figures here, and that of Guardi in the muted palette and depiction of water in the lagoon.

Tironi has chosen to depict the moment in which the Bucintoro, the Serenissima's official vessel, departs the Molo and heads for the Lido; an event which took place annually on the feast of Ascension Day. The ceremony was also known as "The Marriage to the Sea" for the Doge symbolically threw a ring into the lagoon. The Bucintoro had two decks, the lower deck with rowers and the upper deck with a large salon covered with a canopy and decorated in red velvet. The Bucintoro could seat up to ninety people and was reserved for the highest authorities of the Serenissima. The Doge's sumptuous throne stood on the stern of the ship.

The attribution to Tironi has been endorsed by Prof. Dario Succi, a copy of whose expertise accompanies this lot. Prof. Succi dates the painting to the 1770s.