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The Tribuna of the Uffizi (Zoffany)

This article is about the painting. For the room, see Tribuna of the Uffizi.

The Tribuna of the Uffizi (1772–1778) by Johan Zoffany is a painting of the north-east section of the Tribuna room in the Uffizi in Florence, Italy. The painting is part of the United Kingdom's Royal Collection.

The Tribuna of the Uffizi
ArtistJohan Zoffany
Year1772–1778
MediumOil painting
Dimensions123.5 cm × 155.0 cm (48.6 in × 61.0 in)
LocationRoyal Collection, Windsor Castle

Production

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Beginning in 1764, the German-born painter Johan Zoffany received numerous commissions from the Hanoverian King George III and his consort, Queen Charlotte. The queen ordered Zoffany to paint "the Florence Gallery" (the Galleria degli Uffizi), for which the artist would be paid £300.[1] In the summer of 1772, Zoffany left London for Florence, where he met Felton Hervey, an art collector and friend of the king and queen, who figures prominently in the painting.[2] Zoffany worked on the painting through late 1777 and returned to England in 1779.[1] By this time Hervey had died.[2]

The painting depicts the Tribuna of the Uffizi, an octagonal gallery designed by Bernardo Buontalenti in 1584. The most important ancient and Renaissance works were displayed in this gallery in the 18th century, making it an essential highlight of the Grand Tour.

Artworks shown

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Zoffany's picture is not a historical record of the works displayed in the tribuna in the 1770s. Rather, it is an epitome of the works in the Medici collections he felt to be most important. To accomplish that goal, several works from other rooms in the Uffizi and seven paintings from the Galleria Palatina in the Palazzo Pitti were transferred to the Tribuna. To accomplish this, Zoffany requested the assistance of George, 3rd Earl Cowper, who had emigrated to Florence and Sir Horace Mann, who served as British diplomatic representative in Florence to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Two pictures by Raphael which Earl Cowper owned and hoped to sell to George III, and the Earl are depicted in Zoffany's painting. The unframed Samian Sibyl on the floor, acquired for the Medici collection in 1777, was a pendant to Guercino's Libyan Sibyl, recently bought by George III, and its inclusion may have been intended as a compliment to him.

 Venus with a Satyr and Cupids by Annibale CarracciRaphael, Madonna della Sedia (Madonna of the Chair), c.1514Guido Reni, Charity, 1607Raphael, St John the BaptistReni, MadonnaMadonna della seggiolaCorreggio, Madonna and ChildJustus Sustermans, GalileoRaphael, Madonna of the GoldfinchFranciabigio - Madonna of the WellGuido Reni, Cleopatra, 1635–40Holy Family, then attributed to PeruginoRubens, Justus Lipsius with his Pupils, c.1615Portrait of Leo X with two Cardinals by RaphaelTribute Money? by Carravagio?Rubens, Justus Lipsius with his Pupils, c.1615Raphael, Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de’ Medici and Luigi de’ Rossi, 1518Niccolini-Cowper Madonna by RaphaelLarge central paintingHolbein, Sir Richard Southwell, 1536Cristofano Allori, Miracle of St JulianHoly Family, attributed to Niccolò Soggiummm Raphael, Niccolini-Cowper Madonna, 1508, then in Lord Cowper’s possession, having bought it from Zoffany, now National Gallery of Art, Washington, DCTitian, Venus of Urbino, 1538Cupid and Psyche, Roman copy of a Greek original of the 1st or 2nd century BCThe ‘Arrotino’ (Knife-Grinder), a Pergamene original of 2nd or 3rd century BCDancing Faun, marble replica of a bronze of the circle of Praxiteles, 4th century BCThe Infant Hercules Strangling the SerpentsThe Wrestlers, marble copy of a bronze Permamene original, 2nd or 3rd century BCSouth Indian craterEtruscan helmetChimera - Etruscan art8 Oil lampsEgyptian ptahmose, 18th dynastyGreek bronze torsoBust of Julius CaeserRoman silver shieldHead of AntinousSouth Italian craterEtruscan jugOctagonal table with pietra dura top made for the Tribuna, designed by Jacopo Ligozzi and Bernardino Poccetti.Charles Loraine Smith (1751–1835)Richard Edgcumbe, later 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe (1764–1839)George, 3rd Earl Cowper (1738–89)Sir John Dick (1720–1804), British Consul at LeghornOther Windsor, 6th Earl of Plymouth (1751–99)Johann ZoffanyMr Stevenson, companion to the Lord LewishamGeorge Legge, Lord Lewisham, later 3rd Earl of Dartmouth (1755–1810)unknown young manValentine Knightley of Fawsley (1744–96)Pietro Bastianelli, the custodian of the galleryMr GordonHon. Felton Hervey (1712–73)Thomas Patch (1725-82), PainterSir John Taylor Bt., (d. 1786)Sir Horace Mann (1706–86), British Consul in FlorenceGeorge Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilseaprob. Roger Wilbraham (1743-1829)Mr WattsMr Doughty, travelling with Charles Loraine SmithProbably Thomas Wilbraham (b. 1751), brother of RogerThe Medici Venus, Roman copy of a Greek original of the 2nd century BCJames Bruce (1730–94), African explorerUse a cursor to explore or press button for larger image & copyright
The Tribuna of the Uffizi by Johann Zoffany. Place cursor over artworks or persons to identify them.

Paintings

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Zoffany's Original Author and title Where Current location
    Annibale Carracci, Venus with a Satyr and Cupids Left wall Uffizi, Florence
    Guido Reni, Charity Left wall Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Florence
    Raphael, Madonna della seggiola Left wall Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Florence
    Correggio, Adoration of the Christ Child Left wall Uffizi, Florence
    Justus Sustermans, Portrait of Galileo Galilei Left wall Uffizi, Florence
    After Rembrandt?, possibly a copy of the Holy Family with Saint Anne in the Louvre Left wall Unidentified
    Titian's workshop, Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine of Alexandria Central wall Uffizi, Florence
    Raphael and workshop, St John the Baptist Central wall Uffizi, Florence
    Guido Reni, Madonna Central wall private collection?
    Raphael, Madonna del cardellino Central wall Uffizi, Florence
    Rubens, The Consequences of War Central wall Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Florence
    Franciabigio (formerly attributed to Raphael), Madonna del Pozzo Central wall Uffizi, Florence
  ? Central wall between the legs of the Satyr Unidentified
    Hans Holbein, Portrait of Sir Richard Southwell Central wall Uffizi, Florence
    Raphael, Portrait of Perugino Central wall Uffizi, Florence
    Perugino's workshop (Niccolò Soggi?), Madonna with Child, Saint Elizabeth and Saint John Central wall Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Guido Reni, Cleopatra Right wall Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Florence
    Rubens, The Four Philosophers Right wall Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Florence
    Raphael, Pope Leo X with Cardinals Giulio de' Medici and Luigi de' Rossi Right wall Uffizi, Florence
    Pietro da Cortona, Abraham and Hagar Right wall Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
    Bartolomeo Manfredi, Tribute to Caesar Right wall Uffizi, Florence
    Cristofano Allori, Hospitality of Saint Julian Right wall Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Florence
  ? Right wall right of the Wrestlers Unidentified
  Roman Charity? Right wall Unidentified
  ? Right wall behind the Venus Unidentified
  ? (a golden frame behind the man in red at the very right) Right wall
    Raphael, Niccolini-Cowper Madonna[nb 1] Lower part National Gallery of Art, Washington
  Guercino's workshop, Samian Sibyl Lower part Deposits of the Pitti Palace, Florence
    Titian, Venus of Urbino Lower part Uffizi, Florence

Sculptures and other

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Many of the ancient sculptures painted by Zoffany can be identified, although few remain on their 18th century locations today. (The Medici's Roman statues stand in the main corridors of the Uffizi Gallery, except those which are still in the Tribuna. The smaller works are now in the collections of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale and the Museo Bargello in Florence).

Zoffany's Original Author and title Where Current location
    Bust of a young woman, previously known as Plautilla Left shelf Uffizi Gallery, Florence
    Bust of a young man, previously known as Geta Left shelf Uffizi Gallery, Florence
    Bust of a woman Left shelf Museo degli Argenti, Florence
    Ancient Roman bust of a Julio-Claudian woman, previously known as Livia (?) Left shelf Villa Corsini a Castello, Florence
    Ancient Roman bust of Augustus Left shelf Museo degli Argenti, Florence
    Bust of Agrippina Minor Left shelf Uffizi Gallery
    Bust of Augustus Left shelf Museo degli Argenti, Florence
    Ancient Roman art, Venus of Aphrodisias Left shelf Villa Corsini a Castello, Florence
    Bust of a man in antique style Left shelf Museo degli Argenti, Florence
  Seated man (?) Central shelf
    Ancient Roman Seated God Central shelf National Archaeological Museum, Florence
  Bust of young Caracalla Central shelf Uffizi Gallery
  Hardstone footed cup Central shelf
    Bust of a boy, previously known as the young Nero Central shelf Uffizi Gallery, Florence
    Ancient Roman small bust of an Augustus (?) Central shelf National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Bust of Zeus-Serapis Central shelf Villa Corsini a Castello, Florence
  Bronze statuette Central shelf
  Bust of a man (?) Central shelf
    Cupid with the bow Central shelf Uffizi Gallery, Florence
    Ancient Roman bronze statuette of Heracles Right shelf National Archaeological Museum, Florence
  Bust of a man (?) Right shelf
  Canopic jar (?) Right shelf
    Bust of Nerva Right shelf Museo degli Argenti, Florence
    Bertoldo di Giovanni, Putto playing the lute Right shelf Bargello, Florence
    Ancient Roman statuette of Satyr Right shelf Villa Corsini a Castello, Florence
    Seated Concordia Right shelf National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Ancient Roman bust of a Young Satyr Right shelf Villa Corsini a Castello, Florence
    Ancient Roman art after Lysippus, Heracles and the Nemean Lion Right shelf Hermitage, St. Petersburg?
    Seated Tyche of Anthioch Right shelf National Archaeological Museum, Florence
  Bust of Bacchus (?) Right shelf
    Ancient Roman art, Cupid and Psyche Center Uffizi, Florence
    Ancient Roman art, Dancing Faun Center Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Jacopo Antelli (Monicca) and Jacopo Ligozzi, Octagonal table with Pietre Dure mosaics Center Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Ancient Roman art, Baby Hercules strangling the snake Center Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Ancient Roman art, The Two Wrestlers Center Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Cleomenes, Medici Venus Center Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Baltimore Painter, Apulian krater with Amazonomachy Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Etruscan bronze helmet with "button" on top Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Ancient Roman art, Arrotino Lower part Uffizi, Florence, still in the Tribuna
    Etruscan (with 17th-century implements), Chimera of Arezzo Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Andrea Briosco workshop, Lamp in the shape of a Twisting Man Lower part Bargello, Florence
    Plate (missorium) of F. Ardaburius Aspar', Roman, c.. 434 AD Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Bust, previously known as Cicero Lower part Uffizi Gallery
    Florentine pseudo-antique art, second half of the 16th century, Bronze head of Antinous Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
  Bronze lamp (?) Lower part
    Bucchero Etruscan krater Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Bucchero Etruscan oinochoe Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Bucchero Etruscan situla Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Ancient Greek art, Livorno Torso Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Ancient Egyptian art, Cube statue of Ptahmose Lower part National Archaeological Museum, Florence
    Etruscan funerary urn probably made in Volterra Lower part, under the Venus of Urbino National Archaeological Museum, Florence

Persons shown

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The Tribuna of the Uffizi combines aspects of the British 18th-century conversation piece, or informal group portrait, with that of the predominantly Flemish 17th-century tradition of Wunderkammer and gallery views. Thus, the figures populating Zoffany's painting are all identifiable as connoisseurs, diplomats and visitors to Florence. The inclusion of so many recognisable portraits was criticized by Zoffany's royal patrons, and by Horace Walpole, who called it "a flock of travelling boys, and one does not know nor care whom."[3]

The first group of people is centered around the Niccolini Madonna by Raphael. From left, standing up, there are the picture's owner George, 3rd earl of Cowper, Sir John Dick, baronet of Braid, Other Windsor, 5th Earl of Plymouth, and Johan Zoffany, the painter himself, followed on the other side of the painting by Mr. Stevenson and his companion George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth, while is sitting on a chair Charles Loraine Smith and behind him, bended, Richard Edgcumbe, later 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

Two more connoisseurs are near the Satiro. The first is reported to be Joseph Leeson, 2nd Earl of Milltown, even if his portrait does not match in age and resemblance those in the National Gallery of Ireland by Pompeo Batoni, and Valentine Knightley of Fawsley.

Further to the center of the painting Pietro Bastianelli, curator of the Uffizi Gallery, shows the Venus of Urbino by Titian to John Gordon,[nb 2] Thomas Patch who is apparently the man touching the Venus, but pointing to the figure of a male nude (believed to be a reference to Patch's homosexuality),[6] Sir John Taylor and Sir Horace Mann. The sitting man, looking back towards, is the Hon. Felton Hervey.

The group around the Medici Venus include John Finch, Mr. Wilbraham (one of the sons of Roger Wilbraham of Nantwich), Mr. Watts, Mr. Doughty and, on the other side, Thomas Wilbraham (the second son) and James Bruce.

Detail Portrait Name Note
    George, 3rd Earl Cowper
    Sir John Dick baronet of Braid
  Other Windsor, 5th Earl of Plymouth
    Johann Zoffany the author of painting (self-portrait)
  Mr. David Stevenson tutor to Lord Lewisham
    George Legge, 3rd Earl of Dartmouth
  Charles Loraine Smith painter
    Richard Edgcumbe,
later 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
    Joseph Leeson, 2nd Earl of Milltown is reported to be, even if his portrait does not match in age and resemblance those in the National Gallery of Ireland by Pompeo Batoni
  Valentine Knightley of Fawsley also painter
  Pietro Bastianelli curator of the Uffizi Gallery
  John Gordon
    Thomas Patch probably the man touching the Venus
  Sir John Taylor
    Sir Horace Mann
    Hon. Felton Hervey
  John Finch, 9th Earl of Winchilsea
  Mr. Wilbraham (one of the sons of Roger Wilbraham of Natwich)
  Mr. Watts
  Mr. Doughty
  Thomas Wilbraham (the second son)
    James Bruce

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ This painting was owned by Zoffany at the moment: this explains its prominence.
  2. ^ Described in contemporary Italian newspapers as "Mr. Gordon, an English official".[4]John Chambers wrote in 1829 that Rev. William Gordon of Saxlingham possessed several paintings "collected by John Gordon, who figured in Zoffany's picture of the Gallery of Florence".[4][5]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Uffizi Tribuna (Zoffany).

Sources

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  • "The Tribuna of the Uffizi". Royal Collection.; text adapted from
    • Shawe-Taylor, Desmond (2009). The Conversation Piece: Scenes of Fashionable Life. London: Royal Collection Publications. ISBN 978-1905686070.
  • Pressly, William L. (March 1987). "Genius Unveiled: The Self-Portraits of Johan Zoffany". The Art Bulletin. 69 (1): 88–101. doi:10.1080/00043079.1987.10788404. ISSN 0004-3079.
  • Nicholls, John Anthony (2006). Das Galeriebild im 18. Jahrhundert und Johann Zoffanys "Tribuna" (PDF) (Ph.D. thesis) (in German). Bonn University.
  • Diagram with key to works and people, reproduced in Farber, Allen (Spring 2014). "The Gentlemanly Hang: Johann Zoffany, The Tribuna of the Uffizi, 1772-78". ARTH 200 Assignments: Authoritative and Disciplined Discussions of Masterpieces. SUNY Oneonta.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Royal Collection from Shawe-Taylor 2009
  2. ^ a b "The Hon. Felton Hervey (1712–1775)". National Trust Collections. National Trust. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  3. ^ Lewis, W.S., ed. (1967). "To MANN, Friday 12 November 1779". The Yale edition of Horace Walpole's correspondence. Vol. 24. Yale: Lewis Walpole Library. pp. 526–7. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b Cited in Nicholls 2006, p.152
  5. ^ Chambers, John (1829). "Hundred of Henstead". A General History of the County of Norfolk, Intended to Convey All the Information of a Norfolk Tour. Vol. II. Norwich: John Stacy. pp. 759–760. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
  6. ^ "BBC Two - Mary Beard's Shock of the Nude, Series 1, Episode 1".
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