The figure’s enigmatic gesture – pointing to something outside the picture – engages our attention. The prominent handkerchief he holds was a fashionable prop and sign of status. The artist drew on Tintoretto’s work, both celebrated and condemned for its quick execution. Careful finish is rejected and we are aware of how the work was painted – and so can admire the artist’s ability to suggest rather than show. Jacopo Tintoretto’s son Domenico, who would inherit the family workshop, and Palma Giovane, who emulated the master’s style, have both been proposed as the painter.
