Tiziano Vecellio
better known as Titian – ( Tish’n)
Italian
1473-1490
There were times throughout history when some artists were shown respect and celebrity much like professional athletes are shown now. There were also times in history that saw great and bold proclamations of firmly held convictions; Commissions were given precedent by leaders of nations to inspire and reflect the values of the day… and to educate. The Renaissance was such a time.
“Renaissance” literally translates as: Re-birth or Re-vitalization.
The 1500’s saw a re-birth of ideals, learning, and religious fervor. The true leaders of the country were not necessarily the kings, but rather the leaders of churches. The most powerful tool for communicating their message was through artwork, which explained without words the message of the Bible. This was important because a majority of the people were illiterate. This means of illustrating the Bible was easy to understand and to remember. Beautiful artwork also added richness and elegance to a sanctuary, in a way that proclaimed the wealth of a nation to visitors and countrymen alike. The artwork was, of course, not intended for worship themselves, but to help prepare hearts for worship.
Titian was one of the forerunners of the Italian Renaissance, stepping out from medieval thought into the bright world of the Renaissance; His colorful pictures bear testimony to this transition. If I may make a rather poor analogy… Titian’s paintings were somewhat like the Wizard of Oz movie at the point where it goes from black and white to Technicolor. This is a crude but deliberate attempt to help you see his contributions to the art world.
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Titian was known as a “colorist”. The Renaissance was a time where art and science overlapped, and both were still considered at that time to be a “study of life”. Titian was not an architect like Michelangelo or an inventor like DaVinci he was simply a painter. When I recall to mind paintings from the Renaissance I usually think of the “Brown School” of painting- a term which adequately describes the color of many of the pictures. Titian however, stands out in stark contrast to his surroundings, much like his colorful paintings stand out in contrast to their surroundings. Visual phenomena such as perspective, foreshortening, and symmetry were being discovered for the first time by a large audience. “Light” was a fascinating subject for many Renaissance artists, and the notion that “light” and “color” were inseparable started to be applied in the form of pigment on canvas. This was one of Titian’s primary concerns, and the one for which he is most remembered.
It was Titian’s ability to create “luminosity of color” that remains so impressive. To make a picture seem like it glows with its own light source was a new convention. This effect, and his skillful manner of execution, combined with an understanding of color theory, has stood for 500 years almost unrivaled by artists of the following generations. Reproductions of Titian’s paintings will hardly do them justice.
This technical mastery and forceful storytelling style earned Titian superstar status in his day. He was famous, and wealthy and had all the trappings of worldly success. When Titian was almost 90 years old he was struck down by the plague, which was sweeping across much of Europe. Against the current decree concerning the victims, Titian was given a magnificent funeral and buried in the Frari- the same church that houses many of his finest religious paintings.