The Enthronement of the Dogaressa
The climax of the Dogaressa's coronation occurred when she entered the Palace and sat on the Doge's throne, an event which was a formal part of the inauguration ceremony.
A document from the 15th century, which described the dogaressa's coronation stated:" The Dogaressa would proceed to the Great Council where she took a seat on the Doge's throne while everyone was permitted to touch her hand ". [1]
The two paintings show the Dogaressa Morosina Morosini and her husband, Doge Marino Grimani, sitting on the same ceremonial chair, the Doge's throne. They are depicted in a similar pose with their hands placed on the arm rests and they are both wearing sumptuous golden robes.
The Dogaressa Morosini seems confident and assured of her new role as the Dogaressa of Venice.
The newly elected doge had to swear an oath of office, named the Promissione Ducale, which detailed the doge's obligations, scope, and limitations of his power. The dogaressa, during her inauguration also had to swear on the Promissione, and pledge that she would serve the state with loyalty.
This oath was especially addressed to the dogaressa, as it listed both her duties and restrictions. In a sense it "created" the dogaressa's persona and regulated her role in different religious and civic rituals. In addition, the fact that an individual oath was made especially for the dogaressa emphasized that the state considered her public role as independent from the doge's. The Promissione prevented the dogaressa from meeting with members of government and gaining information which she could use to influence her husband's policy making. The Promissione thus both established some of her most important public roles and limited her influence.
[1] Asa Boholm, The Coronation of Female Death: The Dogaressa of Venice, University of Gothenburg, (1992),96 (See Molmenti 1887, translated by author)