Titian

Titian was born around 1488 in Pieve di Cadore near Venice. Coming from an established family, he was sent to Venice at age nine with his brother to apprentice as a painter.¹

In Venice, he studied under Gentile Bellini and his brother Giovanni Bellini. Training in these major workshops allowed him to develop the talent that would later define the Venetian school's golden age.¹

In his youth, he rivaled Giorgione, collaborating on the Fondaco dei Tedeschi frescoes in 1508. Their styles were so similar that many masterpieces once attributed to Giorgione are now recognized as Titian's.¹

His early work 'A Man with a Quilted Sleeve' (c. 1509) deeply impressed Rembrandt. The Dutch master sketched it at an auction and used it as a key inspiration for his own self-portraits.¹

In 1511, he painted frescoes of the life of St. Anthony in Padua. Works like 'The Miracle of the Jealous Husband' demonstrate his early mastery of dramatic expression and spatial arrangement.¹

In 1513, Titian petitioned to paint a battle scene for the Doge's Palace and requested a 'sansaria' (broker's patent), showing his strong ambition to establish his financial and professional status.¹

Titian lived an exceptionally long life, painting until his death in 1576. Although he claimed to be nearly 100 in letters to the King of Spain, modern scholars believe he was in his late 80s.¹