Titian and His Masters

A detailed Summary of Titian and His Masters

Titian, or Tiziano Vecellio was a notorious Venetian painter of the High Renaissance who's talent achieved worldly success and had direct influence on various painters who later attempted to imitate his technique. Titian was born in Pieve di Cadore in Italy towards the end of the 15th century. Evidence regarding the actual date of Titian's birth is contradictory and inconclusive (Hope 11). The date of Titian's birth is noted to be between 1477-1490, varying on the source. Titian fell under the influence of several famous painters who played a relevant part in establishing Titian's early career. His apprenticing to Giovanni Bellini and especially Giorgione of Castledefranco provided Titian with significant skills that assisted Titan in achieving his unique and extraordinary style. Due to his early experiences with these teachers, he learned to at first incorporate their style and eventually developed and created what would become his own masterful technique that would separate him and surpass his teachers and any other painter of his time. Titian's teachers played an important role in helping his admirers to understand how he acquired the talent he possessed and achieved his defining style that he would practice until his death.

Around 1507, Giorgione hired Titian to assist him in decorating the newly built Fondaco dei Tedeschi (Williams 55). Giorgione had also been one of Giovanni Bellini's most gifted students (Williams 35), and was highly influenced by Giovanni's style (Williams 53). Throughout the entire history of Italian art, Giorgione was one of the most controversial and mysterious (yet gifted) figures. Although he had been credited with numerous paintings, few had survived, and their authenticity questioned. Many had shown to be retouched or repainted by other hands, especially by Titian after Giorgione's death (Willaims 53). The time Titian and Giorgione would spend together for the next three years (until Giorgione's untimely death due to the plague) would have an immense influence on Titian.

Around the age of nine Titian was sent to Venice where he went to apprentice under Sabastiano Zuccato, an officer of the painter's guild, a mosaicist and fair painter. To start Titian was required to complete simple tasks such as cleaning palettes, washing brushes, grinding colours, and sweeping, chores all a part of a slow and tedious training process that all painters must endure. Titian consecrated to drawing, and then to preparing the surfaces for Sebastiano's paint. Eventually he was allowed to paint small and basic portions of the picture himself. Titian needed this training period (which takes anywhere between five and seven years) in order to be admitted to the guild, and only once a member of the guild, could a painter work. At the end of his apprenticeship in 1505, Titian (around 17) left to work in the studio of Gentile Bellini (Williams 30).

Titia

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Approximate Word count = 1115
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People