TIZIANO VECELLIO aka TITIAN

1488/1490 – AUGUST 27, 1576

Tiziano Vecellio aka Titian (1488/1490 – August 27, 1576) was one of the most important and greatest 16th Century painter from Itlay.   Vecellio had worked under two great Venetian artist, Giovanni Bellini and Giorgione, both whom died within six years apart.  His actual birth year is yet to be confirmed.  Vecellio was born in the town of Pieve di Cadore in the Republic of Venice.  He was married to Cecili, the daughet of a barber from his village Cadore.  Cecilia was his housekeeper and mistress about five years.   They had two boys together Pomponio and Orazio, in 1525 Celia fell seriously sick, wishing to mary her to legitimize their children, he married her, they had two more kids, two daughters, only the girl Lavinia survived in 1530, however Cecilia died giving birth to her.  Vecellio decided to move to a new home with his two boys , convincing his sister Orsa to take charge of the household, which was a mansion in fashionable suburb in Biri Grande, at the edge of Venice with beautiful gardens on the sea facing Murano.  Vecellio was known to be one of the most versatile painter of Italy with a profound use of colors and strokes that contributed from mythologies, painting altarpieces, renaissance art, portraits to landscapes with figures. backgrounds.   Vecillio established a place as a leader of painting when he was commissioned for his first public masterpiece for the Assumption of the Virgin for the high altar of Santa Maria Gloriosa di Frari church in Venice, which took him three years to complete from 1516 – 1518.  Vicellio achieved notability and international fame though his many portraits of Pope Paul III, Emperor Charles V (whom did not wanted to be painted by no other artist) and many others.  While alive many fake copies of his work was being produced and sold.  His paintings portrayed depth and psychological dimensions.  During his last years Vecillio mostly worked for Phillip II as portrait painter.  Vecelio died from a fatal plague in Venice on August 27, 1576.  He was the only Venice Plage victim to have been given a church burial, was interred in the church he wished, the Frari.  Vecellio rests close to his very famous painting, the Madonna di Ca’Pesaro.  Unfortunately, no memorial marked Vecellio’s grave till Austrian rulers of Venice commissioned Canova to provide the large monument until much later.   Sad to say, his favorite son Orazio, who was also his assistant, immediately died after his fathers death, due to the same Venice Plague.  Vecellio’s most influential altarpiece was burnt in a fire at the SS. Giovanni e Paolo church in the 19th Century.   His work has been an influence to many artist around the world.  Tiziano Vecellio “Titian” is know as the Italian Renaissance Master.