“It is not bright colors but good drawing that makes figures beautiful.”
As quoted in The Quotable Artist (2002) by Peggy Hadden, p. 32.
undated quotes
Tizian gilt als der führende Vertreter der venezianischen Malerei des 16. Jahrhunderts und einer der Hauptmeister der italienischen Hochrenaissance. Zu Lebzeiten wurde er oft nach seinem Geburtsort Da Cadore genannt.
Sein Schaffen fiel in das Goldene Zeitalter der venezianischen Malerei, als die Serenissima ihre wirtschaftliche und kulturelle Blütezeit erlebte. Schon als neunjähriges Kind kam Tizian nach Venedig und wurde von den Brüdern Gentile und Giovanni Bellini ausgebildet. 1513 eröffnete er in San Samuele seine eigene Werkstatt und entwickelte sich zu einem europaweit gefeierten Künstler. 1533 wurde er von Kaiser Karl V. in den Adelsstand erhoben und zu dessen Hofmaler ernannt. 1545 reiste Tizian auf Einladung von Papst Paul III. nach Rom, 1548 und 1550 begleitete er Karl V. sowie dessen Sohn Philipp II. auf die Reichstage zu Augsburg. Als Tizian in hohem Alter 1576 an der Pest starb, war er der wohl erfolgreichste Maler der venezianischen Geschichte.
Von seinen Zeitgenossen als „die Sonne unter den Sternen“ bezeichnet, war Tizian einer der vielseitigsten und mit insgesamt 646 Werken auch produktivsten italienischen Maler seiner Zeit. Er malte sowohl Porträts als auch Landschaften, mythologische und religiöse Themen. Zu seinen bekanntesten Arbeiten zählen Himmlische und irdische Liebe, Mariä Verkündigung, Madonna der Familie Pesaro, Venus von Urbino und Toilette der Venus. Charakteristisch für seine Werke ist sein ausgeprägter Kolorismus, den er sein Leben lang beibehielt.
Gegen Ende seines langen Lebens vollzog er dann einen drastischen Stilbruch, der bereits zum Barock hinführt und den viele Kunsthistoriker als eine Rückkehr zu sich selbst sehen.
Bereits zu Lebzeiten waren Tizians Werke in allen wichtigen Sammlungen vertreten, wie etwa in den Vatikanischen Museen. Auch die Herrscherfamilien der Hocharistokratie, unter anderem die d’Este, Gonzaga, Farnese und die Habsburger, kauften zahlreiche Werke für ihre Sammlungen auf. Tizians Werke wurden, ebenso noch zu Lebzeiten, durch etliche Stiche und Kopien rezipiert. Namhafte Maler des 16. Jahrhunderts wie Lambert Sustris oder Jacopo Tintoretto wurden stark von Tizian beeinflusst. Seine Malweise und besonders seine Farbgebung sollten aber nicht nur auf seine Zeitgenossen, sondern auch auf zukünftige Generationen von Malern einen starken Einfluss haben. Der Bogen der von ihm beeinflussten Maler spannt sich dabei von Peter Paul Rubens über Antoine Watteau bis hin zu Eugène Delacroix.
Wikipedia
“It is not bright colors but good drawing that makes figures beautiful.”
As quoted in The Quotable Artist (2002) by Peggy Hadden, p. 32.
undated quotes
In a letter to the Duke Alfonso of Ferrara, From Venice, April 1, 1518; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account ..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 181-82
1510-1540
Quote in Titian's letter to his friend Pietro Aretino in Venice, sent from Augsburg, 11 Nov. 1550, the original is in Lettere a P. Aretino' u.s. i. p. 147; as cited in Titian: his life and times - With some account of his family... Vol. 2. J. A. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle, Publisher London, John Murray, 1877, p. 198
1541-1576
“He who improvises can never make a perfect line of poetry.”
As quoted in A Dictionary of Art and Artists (1959) by Peter Murray and Linda Murray, p. 321.
undated quotes
Quote from a petition presented by Titian, and read on the 31st of May, 1513, before the Council of ten of Venice; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 153-154
The chiefs of the Council on the day in question accepted Titian's offer. Sharp monitions reminded him in 1518, 1522 and 1537 that he should complete 'The Battle', he did not until 1539
1510-1540
Quelle: http://www.everypainterpaintshimself.com/article/titians_battle_of_cadore_1538-9
Titian's remark to Francesco Vargas, the Spanish envoy, c. 1545; in Vicus, De studiorum ratione, u. s. p. 109; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 115
1541-1576
As quoted in The Quotable Artist (2002) by Peggy Hadden, p. 71.
As quoted in The Quotable Artist (2002) by Peggy Hadden, p. 72.
undated quotes
Variante: They who are compelled to paint by force, without being in the necessary mood, can produce only ungainly works, because this profession requires an unruffled temper.
Your Majesty's faithful servant, Titiano.
In a letter to King Ferdinand, from Innsbruck, 20th Oct 1548; original in the 'Appendix' in Titian: his life and times - With some account of his family... Vol. 2., J. A. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle, Publisher London, John Murray, 1877, p. 189
The king's daughters were nine and five years old, and a young baby in long clothes; the preparatory work of the paintings was probably done by Cesare Vecelli. Titian's share in these portraits was very slight; he added only a very little to the heads
1541-1576
In a letter to the Duke of Mantua, from Bologna, 10 March 1533; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 370
The portrait which Titian took home and repeated a second time he doubtless sent to Charles V. The replica was not sent to Mantua till after 1536, but there it appears to have remained. Another example besides that of the Madrid Museum came into the hands of Charles the First of England.
1510-1540
Quelle: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Titian#/media/File:Tizian_081.jpg
Quelle: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Titian#/media/File:Tizian_081.jpg
Quote in Titian's letter to Cardinale Farnese, Venice, 11 Dec. 1544, taken from the original in Ronchini's Relazioni, u. s., note to p. 6
The canon of the church San Spirito had refused the commissioned paintings, Titian was painting there. So he claims in this letter countenance and protection by the cardinal
1541-1576
Quote from a letter of Titian, to the Marquess Gonzaga of Mantua, from Venice 22 Juin 1527; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 317
Assuredly Titian at this time had Messer Pietro Aretino for a sitter; this letter proves his intimacy with the secretary of Giovanni de Medici
1510-1540
official document, 1567; as quoted by Bruce Kohl in Titian and Venetian Painting, 1450-1590; publishers Westview Press, 1999, p. 117
In 1567 Titian applied to the Venetian senate for a fifteen-year copyright privilege for engravings, made after his work. The Dutch artist Cornelis Cort produced prints after Titian's work, all made in collaboration, in 1555-56 and 1571-72
1541-1576
In a letter of Titian to the Marquess Gonzaga of Mantua, from Venice, 12 July, 1531; published by Pungileoni in the 'Giornale Arcadico' in 1831 and reprinted in Cadorin, 'Dello Amore', p. 37; transl. J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle
The gift made it possible that his son Pomponio could start a career in the catholic church. A fortnight later Titian's note has become humble and thankful, for the Duke has written him, to say that the benefice and its income are his
1510-1540
In a letter to Cardinal Farnese in Rome, from Venice 24th December 1547; after the original in Rochini's 'Belazione' u.s. pp. 9-10; as quoted in Titian: his life and times - With some account of his family... Vol. 2., J. A. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle, Publisher London, John Murray, 1877, pp. 164-165
Titian had to chose between Pope & Emperor when they were on the worst of terms; he decided to obey the Emperor Charles V who ordered Titian to come to his court at Augsburg, Germany
1541-1576
In a letter to the Duke of Mantua, from Venice, 6 April 1537; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 421
1510-1540
In a letter from Venice to the Spanish emperor Charles V in Bruxelles, 10 Sept. 1554; original in the 'Appendix' of Titian: his life and times - With some account of his family... Vol. 2., J. A. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle, Publisher London, John Murray, 1877, p. 231-232
Titian is announcing in his letter the completion and the delivery of the paintings 'Trinity' and 'Addolorata' and probably a third painting 'Christ appearing to the Magdalen', for Mary of Hungary
1541-1576
In a letter to Emperor Charles V, from Venice, 5 Oct, 1544; copied in the 'Archives of Simancas' by Mr. Bergenroth; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account... Volume II, publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 103
This letter is written by Titian himself - free from the polite style of his secretary/friend Arentino; he is telling the Emperor that he had finished two portraits of the Empress Isabella, he painted after her death after a probably Flemish original. The two portraits were sent to the court in Brussels.
1541-1576
Quelle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titian#/media/File:Isabella_of_Portugal_by_Titian.jpg
In a letter to Philip II, then still Prince of Spain, sent from Venice 11th Oct. 1552; as quoted in Titian: his life and times - With some account of his family... Vol. 2. J. A. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle, Publisher London, John Murray, 1877, p. 218
For the first time in the annals of Italian painting history we are informed by this letter about a painting which is nothing more than a landscape! According to reports of visitors [for instance Aurelio Luini ] of Titian's studio, he very probably painted more landscapes, but all of them are perished.
1541-1576
Quote in his letter to Titian's friend and agent Pietro Aretino, From Asti, 31 May, 1536; in Lettere a Pietro Aretino, i. p. 146 and reprinted in Ticozzi (Vecelli, p. 309); transl. J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle
At Asti, it would seem, Titian was quite in Spanish waters. He doubtless met and perhaps again portrayed the Emperor Charles V.
1510-1540
Quote from Titian's letter to the Duke Alfonso of Ferrara, From Venice, Feb. 19, 1517; from the original in Marquis Campori's Tiziano e gli Estensi, p. 5; as quoted by J.A.Y. Crowe & G.B. Cavalcaselle in Titian his life and times - With some account ..., publisher John Murray, London, 1877, p. 178-79
1510-1540