TITIAN

Tiziano Vecellio (c.1488/90-1576) - known in English simply as Titian - wasa remarkably versatile painter, equally comfortable with a wide range ofgenres and subjects. Unlike many artists from history whose work has beenappreciated only after their death, Titian enjoyed fame and successthroughout his career, which spanned over seven decades. Based in Venice,Titian received commissions from many local patrons and the Venetiangovernment, as well as many distinguished figures from further afield,such as the Pope, the German emperor and the King of Spain. Titian'scontemporary biographer, Giorgio Vasari, praised his skill as a colourist;the artist's careful modelling and depth of colour, shown to especiallygood effect in mythological works such as 'Bacchus and Ariadne' (1520-3)and 'Tarquin and Lucretia' (1569-71), continue to impress viewers in thetwenty-first century. In addition to his success in representing paganmythological themes, his skill as a portrait painter also won him manyprestigious commissions, while his renown as a painter of religioussubjects resulted in the creation of high-profile altarpieces, as well asindividual works for private patrons. This new monologue combines PeterHumfrey's scholarly yet accessible text with 200 beautiful reproductionsof Titian's works, from oil paintings and frescos to preparatory drawings.Careful attention has been paid to the scale and quality of the images,allowing the works and their vivid colours to be shown in their trueintensity. The book is a perfect introduction to the work of this originaland influential Renaissance artist.