Restored in 2003 with funding from the Timken Museum of Art.

The subject of this painting is traditionally identified as Girolamo Miani (1486–1537), who was celebrated in Venice for his charitable works, particularly his dedication to the poor and the sick; he was also the founder of the religious order of the Somascan Fathers. He was beatified and canonized in the middle of the eighteenth century.

The painting, thought to be based on a portrait produced while the saint was alive, is generally attributed to Leandro Bassano, the third son of Jacopo dal Ponte. Leandro was an outstanding portraitist who moved his studio to Venice around the year 1584 in order to participate in the restoration of the Palazzo Ducale. He was knighted by the Doge and became well known for his remarkable portraits.

This work is part of the Correr Museum paintings repository, and is among several works that were brought out of storage for restoration at the suggestion of Save Venice Board member Prof. W. R. Rearick.

The painting was restored by conservator Maria Chiara Ceriotti of the ARKE restoration firm, with the guidance of project director Attilia Dorigato of the Correr Museum.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Leandro Bassano (1557-1622) [attr.]
Saint Girolamo Miani
Late sixteenth century, oil on canvas
87 x 72 cm

Museo Correr: Homepage

Attilia Dorigato, “Correr Museum Paintings Restored in Honor of Professor W. R. Rearick” (2004)