Titian
By Casey Carter
About Titian; Biographical Information
Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian, was a renaissance painter. He was born in 1488 in Piere de Cadore, Italy, located in the Alps north of Venice. He had a brother named Francesco, and when he was nine they travelled to Venice to work for the well known mosaic artist Sebastiano Zuccati. After a short time, Titian's natural talent of painting was discovered and he was sent to learn from Giovanni Bellini. There, he met Bellini's other pupil Giorgione. Titian later collaborated on his first work with Giorgione. The two artists worked together so often that their painting style was nearly impossible to tell apart.
Titian's Quick Rise to Fame
Titian's work quickly became desirable. Many people wanted his work because it was so amazing. He was famous and adored because of this. In 1516, he was so loved that he became the official painter of the Venitian Republic. He took this position after his former teacher, Bellini, died. He travelled often to do work for many people, but mainly stayed within Venice. In 1525, he married his wife Cecilia and later had three children with her. In 1530, he travelled to Bologna for the coronation of Charles V as the pope. He stayed after to paint many portraits for him, making Charles V another one of his patrons. A year later, he had enough money for his family to move into a beautiful palace in Venice, where they stayed for the rest of his life. Other patrons of his included the Hapsburgs, the Farnese Family, Pope Paul III, Philip II of Spain, and Alfonso I d'este. All of these patrons were very important and influential on his reputation, in a very positive way.
Renaissance Work
Assumption of The Virgin (1518)
TItian's Assumption of The Virgin was started in 1516 and finished in 1518. This was his first major religious work. He used many new techniques, including oils, vibrant colors, movement, varnish, and his portrayal of the Virgin. This piece displays the Virgin soaring to Heaven with her arms raised. It symbolizes the High Period of the renaissance in that way, because of the magnificent and amazing design of the piece. Today, you can find this work in the Church of Santa Maria del Frari in Venice. This piece relates best with classicism because of the religious theme. I found this piece interesting because of the amazing detail and the wide variety of colors