Titian (The Library of Great Masters)

Tiziano Vecellio was born at Pieve di Cadore, probably sometime between 1488 and 1490. Upon arriving in Venice, he entered the workshop of Sebastiano Zuccato, and from there the workshop of Gentile and Giovanni Bellini, the leading artists of the day. Titian was very interested in the works of the northern artists then in Venice, and would became friendly with a number of German artists so that he could learn from them the secrets of landscape painting. He also used to study animals from life, two elements, which can be seen in the painting of The Flight into Egypt. Titian examines the life of this great Venetian painter who embraces the esoteric themes of the learned humanist circles but also turned his skill to religious subjects. The book is divided into a number of sections, including Titian's work for the Venetian State, his relationship with Mannerist painting, and works commissioned by Charles V and Philip II. His paintings are produced in full colour, including Bacchus and Ariadne (1523/24)