‘Virgin and Child with Saints’, by Marco Palmezzano
The coats of arms in the bottom corners of this picture are of the Venetian families of Donata and Michiel. The Venetian state archives contain the register of marriages by noble families and this records that in 1526 the marriage took place between Giovanni Michiel and Andrea Donata. It is possible that this painting connects in some way with the joining of these two families and may have actually been painted to celebrate the wedding union.
Free gallery talks Tuesday 13 (with British Sign Language interpretation) and Wednesday 28 September, 1pm, Room 2