Titian

Titian
Titian (c. 1488-1576), Italian, Titian was a Venetian painter and one of the most important members of the Venetian school during the Renaissance. Known for his use of color and his ability to create rich, vivid portraits, landscapes, and religious scenes, Titian revolutionized Venetian painting. His techniques, especially his handling of light and texture, were groundbreaking for his time. His works, such as 'The Assumption of the Virgin' and 'Venus of Urbino,' have been celebrated for their sensuality and depth of emotion.
  • The Temptation of Christ (c. 1516-25)

    The Temptation of Christ (c. 1516-25)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    Christ kneels in the barren desert, gaunt from fasting. A winged figure offers bread while shadowy demons lurk behind rocks. The air hums with tension—will he yield to hunger or hold fast? Light fractures the scene, carving sharp contrasts between divine resolve and earthly frailty.

  • Man Holding a Flute (ca. between 1560 and 1565)

    Man Holding a Flute (ca. between 1560 and 1565)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    A man grips a flute, his fingers poised mid-melody. Shadows cling to his furrowed brow, the instrument’s wood warm under lamplight. His lips part slightly—anticipation or the ghost of a note? The moment hums with unplayed music.

  • Carring of the Cross (1565)

    Carring of the Cross (1565)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    A man stumbles under the weight of a wooden cross, shoulders bent, face streaked with dirt and exhaustion. Figures crowd around him—some shove, others weep. The rough grain of the wood presses into his skin. A moment suspended between brutality and surrender.

  • Portrait of a Lady (La Bella) (1536-1538)

    Portrait of a Lady (La Bella) (1536-1538)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    A woman in rich blue silk gazes past the viewer, her hand resting lightly on her fur-trimmed robe. Gold embroidery glints against deep fabric folds, framing her serene yet distant expression. The play of light on pearls and velvet draws the eye, hinting at untold stories behind her composed demeanor.

  • Portrait of a Lady (c. 1530)

    Portrait of a Lady (c. 1530)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    A captivating Renaissance portrait of an unknown woman, radiating quiet mystery and masterful brushwork.

  • Woman Holding an Apple (c. 1550)

    Woman Holding an Apple (c. 1550)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    A woman’s enigmatic expression and the apple she holds suggest untold stories, wrapped in Titian’s lush brushwork.

  • King Philip II of Spain (1545-1556)

    King Philip II of Spain (1545-1556)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    Titian’s portrait of Philip II blends royal formality with subtle realism and presence.

  • Flora (1517)

    Flora (1517)

    Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576)

    Titian’s ‘Flora’ from 1517 beautifully captures the goddess of spring in a graceful and colorful composition, symbolizing fertility and nature’s abundance.