Ducal Palace, Venice

The Doge's prayer may have to do with the great plague of 1575-1577, which took one third of the population of Venice. Da Ponte became Doge the following year, in 1578.

In the left half of the painting St. Anthony Abbot (tau-shaped staff, bell, tau on mantle) intercedes with the Virgin and Child on the Doge's behalf. The staff held by the character in the lower left could identify St. Joseph, though that saint's staff usually has flowers. The saint on the far right is the Doge's namesake, St. Nicholas. (Note the three gold balls below his right hand.) The saint above the Doge is most likely Mark, the patron saint of Venice, with his Gospel book in hand.

More of St. Anthony Abbot
More of St. Joseph
More of St. Nicholas
More of St. Mark
More of the Virgin and Child
This photograph in full resolution (2239 x 1690)