Miracle of the Slave Tintoretto

The Miracle of the Slave, also known as The Miracle of St. Mark, is a painting completed in 1548 by Jacopo Tintoretto. It was originally commissioned for the Scuola Grande di San Marco, a confraternity in Venice, and has been held at the Gallerie dell'Accademia since 1815. The work depicts Saint Mark, the patron saint of Venice, performing a posthumous miracle by saving a slave from torture. The story is based on hagiographic sources, including Jacobus de Voragine's *Golden Legend* and Jacopo Sansovino's bronze reliefs.

The painting shows the slave being tortured by his master after visiting St. Mark's tomb against his master's will. Saint Mark appears above the scene, causing the instruments of torture to break and convincing the crowd of a miracle. Tintoretto's use of vibrant colors and dynamic composition, particularly the contrast between the pink garb of St. Mark and the white turban below, creates a sense of depth and highlights the saint's presence.

Commissioned by the wealthy Scuola Grande di San Marco, the painting was initially controversial but later praised, leading to more commissions for Tintoretto. It is considered a seminal work in Venetian art, influencing religious painting with its energetic figures and themes of miraculous intervention.