Titian
Tiziano Vecellio, known simply as Titian, was an Italian artist who lived from circa 1490 to 1576. He was one of the top three master artists associated with the Venetian School of art of the Italian Renaissance. Titian’s subjects covered a broad range, and included portraits, landscapes, and religious art. He was brilliantly adept with his use of color. After the death of his teacher, Giovanni Bellini, and his artist peer, Giorgione, Titian became the top master of the Venetian School of Art. He would remain its leader for the next sixty years.
Titian was born just outside of Venice sometime between 1488 and 1490. When he was ten years old, he was sent with his brother, Francesco, to study art inside the city. He apprenticed at the studio of the Bellini brothers, who were quite well-known at the time. In Venice, he developed friendships with a group of young artists, including Giorgione with whom he worked as an assistant. Titian’s work was noticed for its quality by contemporaries who thought it surpassed Giorgione’s style. After Giorgione’s early death, he continued with Giorgione style commissions, though his own style developed rapidly.
By 1513, Titian became the superintendent for government works of art in Venice. His first task in office was to finish large scale artworks started by Giovanni Bellini, who was ailing. After Bellini died in 1516, he became the prominent master of the Venetian school and began making monumental works of art. His version of the Assumption was noticed for his use of color, which was more vibrant and less traditional.
Titian’s notoriety spread, and he was called to Augsburg by Charles V and to Spain by Philip II to paint their portraits. Philip II was so enamored with him, that he hired him essentially full time from 1550 until his death. In 1576, Titian died from the Plague in Venice, Italy. He was the only plague victim to be given a church burial. He was in his late 80s. His son and pupil, Orazio, died later that year, also from the plague.
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