Triple portrait (oil on canvas)

A portrait of a man, his wife to his left and his son. On the left a version of Titian's 'Young Woman at her Toilet' in the Louvre, full front, the head a little to the left, a deep dull rose cap on dark chestnut hair, no hand shown. Centre, in front of her, a man, profile left, his body three-quarters, his right hand reaching to left corner, his left, gloved, on his hip. Behind him on right a lad in rose cap with white plume facing three-quarters right, only his head and shoulders seen. This painting, originally considered to be by Giorgione, was in the Manfrini collection at the same time as Giorgione's Tempesta (now in the Accademia, Venice). Contemporary accounts demonstrate that the present picture was far more highly esteemed than the Tempesta (see Literature: Haskell). Byron, for example, praised the painting in Beppo, 1817, canto XII: And when you to Manfrini's palace go, That picture (howsoever fine the rest) Is lovliest to my mind of all the show; ... 'Tis but a portrait of his son and wife, And self; but such a Woman! Love in life!