Titian

Self-Portrait, c. 1567; Museo del Prado, Madrid

Years of life:	1487 – 1576
Artist's Teachers:	Giovanni Bellini, Gentile Bellini
Artist's students:	El Greco, Annibale Carracci, Tintoretto
Art Movement:	High Renaissance, Mannerism (Late Renaissance)
Painting School:	Venetian School

Genre:	Portrait , Religious , Mythology , Genre scenes , Military art
Country:	Italy
Century:	XVI

The artist’s full name is Tiziano Vecellio, but he is better known as Titian. The supreme master of the Venetian School and arguably the greatest painter of the High Renaissance and of all time. Probably a pupil of Giovanni Bellini. Worked with Giorgione.

He had a wonderful sense of color and masterful brushstrokes, constantly innovative, using new subjects and reinterpretations. He could show tragedy, comedy, vulgarity, poetry, drama, ambition, frailty, spirituality. He was a genius at creating a psychological relationship between figures so that the space between them crackles with unspoken thoughts.

Study the faces, facial expressions, gestures, poses. I have never seen such stunningly believable portraits; the idealization and deep understanding of human nature are also astonishing. His gods and saints seem to be as much human as divine (and therefore understandable and approachable). Titian never belittled anyone. Superman is the measure of all things.

Titian’s major works are Christ Appearing to the Magdalen (Noli me Tangere), c. 1512 (London: National Gallery); Portrait of Ranuccio Farnese, 1542 (Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art); Diana Surprised by Actaeon, 1556–59 (Edinburgh: National Gallery of Scotland); The Flaying of Marsyas, c. 1570–75 (Kromeriz, Czech Republic: Château Archiépiscopal).

References:

Robert Cumming. Art: complete encyclopedia. – 512 p. – Moscow: Astrel, 2005.

Artworks:

Pastoral Concert

1509

Giorgione and/or his disciple Titian (who probably finished the painting after Giorgione's death in 1510).

Pastoral Concert • 1509
Venus with a Mirror

1555

Venus with a Mirror • 1555
Jacopo Pesaro, Bishop of Paphos, being presented by Pope Alexander VI to Saint Peter

from 1506 until 1511

Jacopo Pesaro, Bishop of Paphos, being presented by Pope Alexander VI to Saint Peter • from 1506 until 1511
Venus with the Organ Player

1550

Venus with the Organ Player • 1550
The Punishment of Tythus

1565

The Punishment of Tythus • 1565
The Worship of Venus

between 1518 and 1519

The Worship of Venus • between 1518 and 1519
Nymph and Shepherd

1570 - 1575

Nymph and Shepherd • 1570 - 1575
The Bacchanal of the Andrians

from 1523 until 1526

The Bacchanal of the Andrians • from 1523 until 1526
Salomé

1550

Salomé • 1550
Sisyphus

between 1548 and 1549

Sisyphus • between 1548 and 1549
Venus and Adonis

1554

Venus and Adonis • 1554
The Fall of Man

1550

The Fall of Man • 1550
Flora

1515 - 1517

Flora • 1515 - 1517
Religion saved by Spain

between 1572 and 1575

Religion saved by Spain • between 1572 and 1575
St Margaret and the Dragon

1550s / 1565

St Margaret and the Dragon • 1550s / 1565
The Burial of Christ

1572

The Burial of Christ • 1572
The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane

between 1558 and 1562

The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane • between 1558 and 1562
Knight of Malta with a clock

1550

Knight of Malta with a clock • 1550
Jacopo Strada

1567 - 1568

Jacopo Strada • 1567 - 1568
Christ Carrying the Cross

1565

Christ Carrying the Cross • 1565
Philip II offering Don Fernando to Victory

between 1573 and 1575

Philip II offering Don Fernando to Victory • between 1573 and 1575
Gipsy Madonna

1510

Gipsy Madonna • 1510
Portrait of Daniele Barbaro

1545

Portrait of Daniele Barbaro • 1545
Alfonso d'Avalos Addressing his Troops

between 1540 and 1541

Alfonso d'Avalos Addressing his Troops • between 1540 and 1541
Danae

between 1560 and 1565

Danae • between 1560 and 1565
A monk with a book

1550

A monk with a book • 1550
Self-Portrait

1550

Self-Portrait • 1550
Mater Dolorosa with open hands

1555

Mater Dolorosa with open hands • 1555
Archangel Raphael and Tobit

1542

Archangel Raphael and Tobit • 1542
Ecce Homo

1547

Ecce Homo • 1547
The Virgin and Child between Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Roque

1508

The Virgin and Child between Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Roque • 1508
John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony

1548

John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony • 1548
Christ, a gardener

1553

Christ, a gardener • 1553
Philip II of Spain.

between 1549 and 1550

Philip II of Spain. • between 1549 and 1550
Girl Before the Mirror

after 1515

Girl Before the Mirror • after 1515
Philip II in Armour

1550s

Philip II in Armour • 1550s
Venus with Organist and Cupid

1555

Venus with Organist and Cupid • 1555
The Glory

between 1551 and 1554

The Glory • between 1551 and 1554
Madonna of the Cherries

1516

Madonna of the Cherries • 1516
Man with a Glove

1520

Man with a Glove • 1520
Pastoral Concert

1510

Pastoral Concert • 1510
The Penitent Magdalene

1555 - 1565

The Penitent Magdalene • 1555 - 1565
Sleeping Venus

1508

Sleeping Venus • 1508
Mars, Venus and Amor

1530

Mars, Venus and Amor • 1530
Madonna and Child with Sts Dorothy and George

between 1515 and 1518

Madonna and Child with Sts Dorothy and George • between 1515 and 1518
The Feast of the Gods

1514 - 1529

The Feast of the Gods • 1514 - 1529
Girl in a Fur

1530 - 1540

Girl in a Fur • 1530 - 1540
The Death of Actaeon

between 1559 and 1575

The Death of Actaeon • between 1559 and 1575
The Tribute Money

1516

The Tribute Money • 1516
Portrait of Federico II Gonzaga

1525

Portrait of Federico II Gonzaga • 1525
Self-Portrait

1562

Self-Portrait • 1562
Bacchus and Ariadne

from 1520 until 1523

Bacchus and Ariadne • from 1520 until 1523
Diana and Actaeon

from 1556 until 1569

Diana and Actaeon • from 1556 until 1569
Portrait of Charles V with a Dog

1533

Portrait of Charles V with a Dog • 1533
An Allegory of Prudence

between 1550 and 1565

An Allegory of Prudence • between 1550 and 1565
Portrait of Jacopo (Giacomo) Dolfin

1532

Portrait of Jacopo (Giacomo) Dolfin • 1532
Gian Giacomo Bartolotti from Parma

1518

Gian Giacomo Bartolotti from Parma • 1518
Francois I and Suleiman the Magnificient

1530

Francois I and Suleiman the Magnificient • 1530
Venus and Adonis

between 1555 and 1560

Venus and Adonis • between 1555 and 1560
Madonna and Child with Sts Catherine and Dominic and a Donor

between 1512 and 1516

Madonna and Child with Sts Catherine and Dominic and a Donor • between 1512 and 1516
Portrait of a Lady

1555

Portrait of a Lady • 1555
Venus and the Lute Player

1565–1570

Venus and the Lute Player • 1565–1570
The Virgin suckling the Infant Christ

between 1563 and 1577

The Virgin suckling the Infant Christ • between 1563 and 1577
Tarquinius and Lucretia

between 1516 and 1517

Tarquinius and Lucretia • between 1516 and 1517
Boy with Dogs in a Landscape

1560s - 1570s

Boy with Dogs in a Landscape • 1560s - 1570s
Mater Dolorosa

1554

Mater Dolorosa • 1554
Saint John the Baptist

between 1550 and 1555

Saint John the Baptist • between 1550 and 1555
The Tribute Money

1540

The Tribute Money • 1540
A Sacred Conversation: The Madonna and Child with Saints Luke and Catherine of Alexandria

A Sacred Conversation: The Madonna and Child with Saints Luke and Catherine of Alexandria
Noli me Tangere

1510s

Noli me Tangere • 1510s
Venus Rising from the Sea ('Venus Anadyomene')

1520

Venus Rising from the Sea ('Venus Anadyomene') • 1520
The Vendramin Family, venerating a Relic of the True Cross

1543

The Vendramin Family, venerating a Relic of the True Cross • 1543
The Holy Family with a Shepherd

1510

The Holy Family with a Shepherd • 1510
Venus of Urbino

1538

Venus of Urbino • 1538
Sacred love and profane love

1514

Sacred love and profane love • 1514
Portrait of Isabella d'Este

1534-1536

Portrait of Isabella d'Este • 1534-1536
The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John and a Female Saint or Donor

1530

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John and a Female Saint or Donor • 1530
Portrait of the Venetian Painter Giovanni Bellini (?)

from 1511 until 1512

Portrait of the Venetian Painter Giovanni Bellini (?) • from 1511 until 1512