Tiziano Vercelli, who is regarded as one of the most significant, effective, and skilled Renaissance artists, is maybe an artist whose name we know very little about.
We in the present era can learn a lot of fascinating and little-known facts about Titian. So let’s explore Titian’s thoughts, life, and art in this list of 10 fascinating facts about him and discover more about this significant Renaissance painter.
1. Lived For Over A Hundred Years
He lived to be almost a hundred years old, according to Titian. He stated in a letter that he was born in the year 1474, even though he was already an old man.
It is known that he died on August 27, 1576, making him at least 101 years old at the time of his death if Titian’s own writing is to be believed. Definitely a very long life! His birth date is frequently disputed by historians; some speculate that he was born between 1488 and 1490, but it is generally agreed that he was at least 99 years old when he passed away.
2. His Nickname
Throughout his career, the artist was given many nicknames, but “da Cadore” stuck out above the rest. This very briefly describes his location of birth.
He hails from the northeastern Italian province of Cadore. Other nicknames for him included “Il Divino” and “The Sun Amidst Small Stars,” the latter of which was a reference to the famous concluding phrase of Dante’s Paradiso. These names were all used to describe his extraordinary brilliance and abilities as a painter.
3. A Friendly Rivalry
Titian obtained numerous contracts in the early years of his career and made many important contacts while working in a Bellini workshop.
Together with Titian, this companion, Giorgio de Castelfranco, would go on to form the Venetian School of art. Giorgione, as he was known, would pass away in his early 30s in 1510, but amid their relationship and rivalry, they were able to advance their art by inspiring one another.
Many people thought he had already surpassed Giorgione in talent, works, and aesthetic ability despite learning a lot from his master.
4. A Renowned Portrait Painter
Titian started painting portraits of people quite early in his artistic career. A Man with a Quilted Sleeve was the title of one of his earlier pieces, and it has received high appreciation.
Despite the fact that it is unclear exactly who the artist is depicting in this painting, it has received appreciation. Titian created the work, which is currently on display in London’s National Gallery, sometime between 1509 and 1510.
5. His ultimate masterpiece
When his mentor Giovanni Bellini passed away in 1516, he rose to become the most well-known artist in Venice. He received a contract for artwork for a church in Venice at this time.
The Assumption of the Virgin was the result of more than two years of effort by the artist before it was placed on the altar of the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari.
The work that established him as the artistic master for the north of Italy is most notable because it represents three distinct stories on a single canvas. The largest altarpiece in the entire Venetian region, it was a groundbreaking piece of art.
6. A Level Of Admiration
He was able to gain a lot of fame in the early stages of his career. Even people who don’t know much about art might recognise the names of da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, who were regarded to be on par with Titian by his contemporaries.
This intriguing fact is made much more intriguing by the fact that Titian often got commissions from significant 16th-century personalities, including the Popes and Habsburg emperors. His customers and the thoughts of his contemporaries solidify the notion that he and his creations were highly esteemed in 16th-century Italy.
7. A perfectionist
In the course of his extensive artistic career, he produced landscape paintings, religious and mythical works, and portraits. However, as he advanced in age and professional success during the latter 25 years of his life, Titian became into a complete perfectionist.
Even his earlier works couldn’t escape scrutiny; to fix mistakes the artist discovered, works from ten years earlier were repaired and repainted.
The more experienced Titian became, the harsher his judgement of his own creations became.
8. A Tomb Decoration For His Own Tomb
Even as he neared the end of his life, Titian’s art didn’t significantly deteriorate in terms of quality, albeit it did becoming progressively more dismal.
His final piece was a dark rendition of the Pieta that was created with the intention of adorning the artist’s tomb at the Venetian Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari, which is also quite appropriately.
The Gallerie dell’Accademia, where the painting is on exhibit and thus included in the list of Interesting Facts about Titian, serves as its last resting place.
9. Both His Wife And Daughter Died In The Same Manner
Tragically, Titian endured a number of significant tragedies during the course of his long life. After they had already had two kids together, Titian’s wife Cecilia passed away in delivery in the year 1530.
Later on, Titian remarried, and his second wife Lavinia frequently appeared in his artwork.
Together, they had a daughter who, in the year 1560, passed away in childbirth, sharing the same destiny as Titian’s first wife when she got married.
10. He created 400 works of art.
Undoubtedly, Titian created a large number of works during his lifetime. At least 400 of the artist’s paintings, many of which are regarded as Renaissance masterworks, are included in the primary count.
Surprisingly, 300 of these paintings have persisted nearly 500 years later and have been cared for and preserved to secure their presence in the art world. Diana and Actaeon, one of Titian’s most well-known pieces, was purchased for a staggering £50 million by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery of London.
In fact, a painting called Diana and Callisto that was purchased for £45 million by the same buyers was among the most expensive artworks ever sold in the modern era.
Conclusion:
Numerous intriguing and little-known truths can be found in the lives of artists from our history. This list of Titian’s undiscovered traits demonstrates how comparable he is to other historical artists of note despite his relative obscurity.
It demonstrates that there is much about prominent people that we still need to learn, as well as much about their minds, careers, and the art that controlled every area of their life.
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