Titian

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Titian - Portrait of a man with a quilted sleeve

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Amor sacro e amor profano 03

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Vecelli, Tiziano - Judith - c. 1515

Titian (c. 1488/90 – 27 August 1576) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, considered one of the most important members of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, a small town in the Republic of Venice. His real name was Tiziano Vecellio, but he is better known by his anglicized name, Titian. Over the course of his long career, he evolved considerably, but is particularly renowned for his use of color and his development of a painterly technique that would be highly influential well into the Baroque period.

Biography

Titian was born around 1488/90 in Pieve di Cadore. Little is known about his early life, but by the age of ten, he had moved to Venice, where he was apprenticed to the mosaicist Sebastiano Zuccato. He later entered the workshop of the leading Venetian artist of the time, Giovanni Bellini, and also studied with Giorgione, with whom he formed a close working relationship. This early period was crucial in the development of Titian's style, which came to blend the detailed precision of Bellini's work with Giorgione's use of color and atmosphere.

Career

Titian's career can be divided into several phases. His early works are noted for their delicate use of color and light, a style that was heavily influenced by his association with Giorgione. After Giorgione's death in 1510, Titian emerged as a leading artist in Venice. His work began to display a greater confidence in the handling of color and brushwork, leading to the development of a more personal style.

One of Titian's most significant contributions to the art world was his development of the poesie, a series of mythological paintings for Philip II of Spain. These works, including Danaë (1553), Venus and Adonis (1554), and Perseus and Andromeda (1554-1556), are celebrated for their sensuous beauty and masterful composition.

Throughout his career, Titian also painted numerous religious works, portraits, and landscapes. His religious paintings, such as the Assumption of the Virgin (1516-1518) for the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice, are noted for their emotional intensity and dramatic use of light. His portraits, including those of several popes, emperors, and members of the Venetian aristocracy, are admired for their psychological depth and realism.

Legacy

Titian's influence on the art world was profound and long-lasting. His innovative use of color and brushwork would inspire generations of artists, from Rubens and Velázquez to the Impressionists. He is considered a key figure in the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque period.

Titian lived to be nearly ninety, a remarkable age for the time, and continued to paint almost until his death in 1576. His legacy is a vast oeuvre that encompasses a wide range of subjects, styles, and techniques, making him one of the most versatile and influential artists of his time.

See Also

• Renaissance art
• Venetian school (art)
• Giorgione
• Giovanni Bellini