Doge Marino Grimani Receives The Spanish Ambassador. Joseph-nicolas Robert-fleury (1797-1890)

Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury (1797-1890). Signed and dated 1849. Reception of the Spanish ambassador by Doge Marino Grimani around 1600.

Oil on panel measuring 86 cm by 70 cm.
Old frame measuring 101 cm by 85 cm.

This magnificent painting immerses us in the very rich room of the college of the Doge's Palace around 1600 (between 1595 and 1605, the dates of the Grimani dogate). Doge Marino Grimani receives a high Spanish dignitary, most likely an ambassador (note the distinction of the Order of Alcantara on his left sleeve) who still wears the ruff around his neck since it was not until March 1623 that Philip IV of Spain banned it. Marino Grimani (Venice, July 1, 1532 – Venice, December 25, 1605) was the 89th Doge of Venice elected in 1595, his dogate lasted until 1605. There is no doubt about the name of the Doge depicted in this work because we know of a painting by Gabriele Caliari (1568-1631) where he is represented presiding over a reception of Ottoman ambassadors in this same room.

The Sala del Collegio of the Doge's Palace

The Sala del Collegio was the place in the Doge's Palace where the entire College met. The College was responsible for preparing and coordinating the work of the Senate, managing the correspondence of ambassadors, receiving foreign delegations and promoting legislative and political activity. It was the heart of the government of the Republic of Venice. It was made up of the Doge and six councilors to which were added the three heads of the Council of Ten as well as the Grand Chancellor. It was located on the second noble floor of the wing overlooking the Rio di Palazzo, right next to the Senate Hall. This superb room and its paintings, including the one by Veronese depicted in our painting, still exist.

Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury (1797-1890)

Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury, born August 8, 1797 in Cologne and died May 5, 1890 in Paris, was a French painter. He was sent to Paris by his family and became a student of Antoine-Jean Gros. Robert-Fleury then traveled to Italy, where he perfected his skills, then returned to France and presented himself at the Salon of 1824. In 1850, he succeeded François Granet as a member of the Academy of Fine Arts. He was a professor, then director of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris by decree of 1863. Robert-Fleury was director of the Académie de France in Rome from 1866 to 1867. In 1855, he was appointed professor and, in 1863, director of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The following year, he went to Rome, where, between the directorships of Jean Alaux and Ernest Hébert, he was director of the Académie des Beaux-Arts for six months, in 1866 and 1867. He was elevated to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honor in 1867. Around 1835, he married Aimée Adélaïde Prévost, with whom he had two children: a daughter, Louise-Joséphine, and a son, Tony Robert-Fleury, who was also a painter and professor of painting. Since 1894, a street in the 15th arrondissement of Paris has borne his name.