Tiziano

Tiziano Vecellio, known in English as Titian, was an Italian painter of the Renaissance who worked primarily in Venice. Born around 1488 in Pieve di Cadore, he became one of the most influential artists of his era and a leading figure of the Venetian school. He died in 1576 in Venice.

Titian began his career in the workshop of Giovanni Bellini in Venice, where he developed a mastery of color and brushwork. He became renowned for the colorito approach, luminous skin tones, and bold, dynamic compositions, often using strong contrasts of light and shadow to heighten drama. His style evolved over decades, blending rich color with a freer drawing technique and expressive gesture.

Throughout a long career, Titian received prestigious commissions from the Republic of Venice and from European rulers. He served as court painter to Charles V and later to Philip II of Spain, helping to shape both Italian and Franco-Spanish Renaissance taste. His subjects ranged from religious altarpieces to mythological scenes and portraits, frequently celebrating wealth and power through opulent color and confident handling of paint.

Notable works include The Assumption of the Virgin (1516–1518) in the Basilica dei Frari in Venice; Bacchus and Ariadne (1523–1524) at the National Gallery, London; Diana and Actaeon (1556–1559) also at the National Gallery; and Venus of Urbino (c. 1538) in the Uffizi, Florence.

Titian's influence extended beyond his lifetime. His use of color and loose brushwork inspired later Baroque masters, while his workshop trained numerous painters who carried his stylistic legacy across Europe.