Raphael and Workshop Titian
The Life of Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) by Josh Palmer October 18, 2012 History 101
Tiziano Vecellio was born at Pieve di Cadore in the Alps north of Venice around 1490 A.D. He became known in english as Titian. At the age of ten Titian’s father sent him and his brother Francesco to Venice where they were to study painting at Sebastiano Zuccato’s workshop. After a short time at Sebastiano Zuccato’s workshop Titian decided to leave, while his brother stayed at the workshop to study painting. After leaving the workshop Titian went on to become an apprentice of Gentile and Giovanni Bellini to further his study of painting. While in his apprenticeship with Gentile and Giovanni he met Giorgione who had trained with Giovanni and was able to help Titian get his first certain work, where he painted the frescoes on the exterior of German Merchants Exchange from 1507-1508. Titian’s first major independent commission came in 1510 with Giorgione when he was asked to paint three frescos in Scuola del Santo of the Confraternity of Saint Anthony in Padua. The first of these painting are believed to be started by Giorgione who died not too long after the start of the paintings in 1510. However it is unsure as to if Giorgione actually started the painting due to the style of the two painters are so similar. Since Giorgione and Titian were both trained by Giovanni they both made use of the beauty of color and detached reflective mood later characterized as giorgionesque, hence why it is hard to tell the difference between Giorgione’s work and Titian’s early work. In 1516 Titian was commissioned to start the work on his most famous early masterpiece which was an altarpiece called Assumption of the Virgin at the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. This painting depicted the Virgin soaring with her arms outstretched to heaven.
After the completion of the Assumption of the Virgin in 1518 Titian became know as a portraitist from his various profane subjects.
Tiziano Vecellio was born at Pieve di Cadore in the Alps north of Venice around 1490 A.D. He became known in english as Titian. At the age of ten Titian’s father sent him and his brother Francesco to Venice where they were to study painting at Sebastiano Zuccato’s workshop. After a short time at Sebastiano Zuccato’s workshop Titian decided to leave, while his brother stayed at the workshop to study painting. After leaving the workshop Titian went on to become an apprentice of Gentile and Giovanni Bellini to further his study of painting. While in his apprenticeship with Gentile and Giovanni he met Giorgione who had trained with Giovanni and was able to help Titian get his first certain work, where he painted the frescoes on the exterior of German Merchants Exchange from 1507-1508. Titian’s first major independent commission came in 1510 with Giorgione when he was asked to paint three frescos in Scuola del Santo of the Confraternity of Saint Anthony in Padua. The first of these painting are believed to be started by Giorgione who died not too long after the start of the paintings in 1510. However it is unsure as to if Giorgione actually started the painting due to the style of the two painters are so similar. Since Giorgione and Titian were both trained by Giovanni they both made use of the beauty of color and detached reflective mood later characterized as giorgionesque, hence why it is hard to tell the difference between Giorgione’s work and Titian’s early work. In 1516 Titian was commissioned to start the work on his most famous early masterpiece which was an altarpiece called Assumption of the Virgin at the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. This painting depicted the Virgin soaring with her arms outstretched to heaven.
After the completion of the Assumption of the Virgin in 1518 Titian became know as a portraitist from his various profane subjects.
Bibliography: 1. ""Titian." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (October 22, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404706410.html 2.”Titian." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2012. Encyclopedia.com. (October 22, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Titian.html 3."Titian (1490–1576)." The Renaissance. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (October 22, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3205500300.html 4.”Titian biography (1488-1576)” totallyhistory.com (October 22, 2012) http://totallyhistory.com/titian/ 5.”Titian” The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London (October 22, 2012) http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/titian