Nicolo Marcello was the 69th Doge of Venice

Doge of Venice

The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...

, elected in 1473. He held office for a short period, from August 13, 1473 to December 1, 1474. Said to have been inspired by a previous painting dating from the 15th century, Titian

Titian

Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...

 painted Nicolo Marcello's portrait long after his death.

Life

Marcello was a trader with the Orient before he undertook various important public positions in the Republic of Venice such as provost of the Council of Ten

Council of Ten

The Council of Ten, or simply the Ten, was, from 1310 to 1797, one of the major governing bodies of the Republic of Venice whose actions were often secretive. Although some sources may indicate that the Council of Ten was generally accepted in Venice, there was some opposition...

, consigliere, and procurator. Marcello married twice: first with Bianca Barbarigo and later with Contarina Contarni, with whom he had a daughter.

Doge

In the 1473 election for doge, Marcello prevailed against the future doges Pietro Mocenigo

Pietro Mocenigo

Pietro Mocenigo was doge of Venice from 1474 to 1476.He was one of the greatest Venetian admirals and revived the fortunes of his country's navy, which had fallen very low after the defeat at Negropont in 1470...

 and Andrea Vendramin

Andrea Vendramin

Andrea Vendramin served as Doge of Venice, 1476-78, at the height of Venetian power, the only member of the Vendramin family to do so. His mother, Maria Michiel, and his wife Regina Gradenigo, both came from Dogal families...

. During his brief reign devoted himself to reorganizing the state finances of Venice. He introduced new silver coins that were called Marcello. In his will Marcello bequeathed most of his wealth to charitable ventures.

Tomb

Upon his death Marcello was initially interred in the Santa Marina church until its restoration in 1818, at which time a new tomb was built for him by the artist Pietro Lombardo

Pietro Lombardo

Pietro Lombardo was an Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect; born in Carona , he was the father of Tullio Lombardo and Antonio Lombardo....

 in the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo (Venice).