Titian

TIZIANO VECELLI, (tish'yan,) the most distinguished painter of the Venetian school, was B. at Cadore, Friuli, in 1477. He studied under Zuccati and Bellini, and was entrusted by the Venetian govt., in 1512, to adorn the hall of the grand council with pictures representing the Homage of Frederick Barb a ro a to the Pope. In 1514 he took up his abode at the court of Ferrara, where he executed some of his finest works, among others a portrait of his friend Ariosto the poet. In 1530 he received the patronage of the Emperor Charles V., whom he visited at Bologna, and whose portrait he painted, in return for which the Emperor gave him the title of Count-Palatine. D. in Venice, 1576. In the opinion of most critics, T. ranks as the first of colorists, and as a portrait-painter he stands unrivalled. He also excelled in landscape-and history-pieces. His masterpieces are The A umption of the Virgin (in the Academy of Venice), St. Peter Martyr, and The Presentation of the Virgin. [s. 898]