The Miracle of St Mark Freeing the Slave

Tintoretto completed this monumental painting in 1548 for the Scuola Grande di San Marco in Venice. The dramatic scene shows Saint Mark, Venice's patron saint, descending from heaven to save a slave whose master had ordered him tortured for making a pilgrimage to the saint's relics. As the executioners' tools miraculously break, the crowd reacts with astonishment.

The painting measures an impressive 415 × 541 cm and combines Michelangelo-influenced anatomy with the vivid colors of the Venetian School. Now at the Gallerie dell'Accademia, this work launched Tintoretto's career, though it initially faced criticism from some confraternity members before ultimately bringing him widespread acclaim.