Reflections of Venetian Cittadini Originari The Zamberti Family: A Case Study

Abstract

The category of cittadini originari in Venice had rather blurred contours at least until 1569, and this fluidity had an impact on the image they aimed to portray of themselves. As bureaucrats of the Serenissima and prominent members of the Scuole Grandi, they aimed to demonstrate their possession of mediocritas and onorevolezza, underlining the hereditary nature of such attributes. Through the case study of the Zamberti family, the experiences of three generations of cittadini will be followed to reconstruct various aspects of their visual culture, focusing on the role of images in conveying, asserting, and confirming their social status.