Who was Titian? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Tiziano Vecelli, Vecellio

Died At Age: 88

Family:

siblings: Francesco Vecellio

Born Country: Italy

Renaissance Artists Renaissance Painters

Died on: August 27, 1576

place of death: Venice, Italy

Cause of Death: Fever

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

Italian Artists & Painters

Male Artists & Painters

Italian Renaissance Painters

Childhood & Early Life

Titian was born Tiziano Vecellio sometime between 1488 and 1490, in Pieve di Cadore, near Belluno in Italy, to Gregorio Vecellio, and his wife, Lucia. He was the oldest of the four siblings.

After spending his early years in Pieve di Cadore, he was sent to live with his uncle in Venice at the age of ten. While in Venice, he developed an interest towards paintings and decided to become an artist.

Afterwards, he became an apprentice of Sebastiano Zuccato, a Venetian artist. Then, he got the opportunity to work with some of the leading artists of the era such as Giovanni Bellini and later the Giorgione, who proved to be quite influential to the young painter.

Continue Reading Below

Career

After assisting Giorgione on several assignments, Titian obtained his first major independent commission of the three large frescoes in the Confraternity of St. Anthony in Padua. Some of his early works included ‘the Meeting at the Golden Gate’ and ‘the Miracle of Jealous Husband’.

Some of Titian’s early religious works were the ‘Gypsy Madonna’ and the ‘Madonna of the Cherries’, which are remarkable for their application of color. Soon, he established himself as an interpreter of mythology with works such as ‘Flora’ and ‘Sacred and Profane Love’.

Between 1516 and 1518, he completed the ‘Assumption of the Virgin’, a masterwork for the high altar of the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Shortly after creating this work of art, Titian was commissioned by Alfonso I d'Este, duke of Ferrara, for creating the mythological work ‘The Worship of Venus’.

During 1518–1523, he represented classical mythology through his three paintings for the castle of Alfonso d'Este in Ferrara; the Andrians, the Worship of Venus, and Bacchus and Ariadne. Subsequently, he produced masterpieces such as ‘the Madonna and Child with Saints Francis and Aloysius, the Resurrection altar, and the Pesaro Madonna.

In 1530, he painted his first portrait of the Charles V as Holy Roman emperor while attending the coronation of Emperor. During the next decade, Titian visited Rome at the invitation of Pope Paul III and observed the Renaissance works of Raphael and Michelangelo.

While in Rome, he produced several masterpieces which consisted of ‘Paul III and His Grandsons’, a stunning artwork of a meeting between the aged pope and his scheming grandsons, and ‘Paul III without Berretta’.

Upon returning to Venice, Titian produced works such as ‘Christ Crowned with Thorns’ and ‘Martyrdom of St. Lawrence’. In 1550, Titian went to Augsburg upon the invitation of Charles V and painted the portrait of Prince Philip in armor, a work which set a standard for state portraits.

Between 1550 and 1576, Titian mostly worked for Philip II and painted artworks for the monastery of the Escorial such as the magnificent Crucifixion, the Entombment, and the Adoration of the Kings. Subsequently, Titian obtained many commissions from Philip II for the Escorial including two versions of the Agony in the Garden, and the Last Supper.

During the same period, Titian executed a series of mythological works for Philip II such as ‘Venus and Adonis’, ‘Diana and Actaeon’, ‘Diana and Callisto’, ‘Perseus and Andromeda’, and ‘the Rape of Europa’.

Major Works

One of his early masterpieces which established Titian as one of the leading painters of the era was ‘Assumption of the Virgin’ (1516-1518). The painting became known for its dexterous use of color and the attractive renderings of the human form.

In his later years, Titian was much devoted to the religious art and painted several mythology-inspired masterworks such as ‘Venus and Adonis’, and ‘Venus and the Lute Player’. Over the years, Titian also created astonishing portraits of few leading figures of the time, Pope Paul III and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.

Personal Life & Legacy

Titian married Cecilia, a barber’s daughter, following an extended affair during which they had two sons, Pomponio and Orazio. After Cecilia’s death in 1530, Titian married again and became the father of a daughter, Lavinia, but his second wife also died. Thereafter Titian’s sister, Orsola Vecellio, took care of the children.

Titian died of plague on August 27, 1576, in his palace in Venice. He was buried in the church of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice.

Titian Biography