Titian, Self-portrait, 1565-70 A.D., Prado, Madrid (Gill, 1989).
"Flora" is a painting made by Titian in 1515 A.D. (Wirtz, 2000). The medium of this painting is oil on canvas; and it is 79 x 63 cm (Wirtz, 2000). Titian was a great artist of the Italian Renaissance who mastered his use of color to paint perfect portraits (Wirtz, 2000). The exquisite way that Titian developed contrasting skin, facial, and hair tones to look so realistic, is evidence of his genius as a painter. Like Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian also used chiaroscuro, or a contrast of light and dark. However, in contrast to Leonardo Da Vinci, Titian did not use a background of nature in this portrait, although Titian does use landscapes in the background of some of his other paintings. Titian's method of having a plain, dark background in "Flora" gives this painting a Classical ambiance of earlier periods. The plain background allows the viewer to focus more intensely on the woman who is the center of the painting. This painting has soft, sensual tones which made many think that the sitter was a contemporary Venetian courtesan. However, the flowers in her right hand indicate that she is the ancient goddess Flora (Wirtz, 2000). The eroticism of this painting is enhanced by the thin, sheer gown she is wearing that is almost falling off of her left, upper torso (Wirtz, 2000). The painting has a certain elegance, serenity, gracefulness, and charm that are characteristic of Titian's paintings.
About the artist, Titian.
Titian was was born in 1488/90 A.D. in Pieve di Cadore, and he died in Venice in 1576 A.D. (Wirtz, 2000). His real name was Tiziano Vecellio (Wirtz, 2000). He was a student of, Giovanni Bellini, the leading painter in Venice (Gill, 1989). His artistic expertise as a great Venetian painter is evident in the fact that from 1515 A.D. onward, he worked for influential families, such as, the d'Este, Gonzaga, Furnace, and Rovere dynasties (Wirtz, 2000). He also worked for King Francois I of France (Wirtz, 2000). Titian received the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1533 A.D. while working as a court painter to Emperor Charles V (Wirtz, 2000). Titian went to Rome in 1545 A.D. to work for Pope Paul III (Wirtz, 2000). Later in his life, he worked for Philip II (Wirtz, 2000).
References:
Aston, M. (2003). Panorama of the Renaissance. London: Thames & Hudson, Ltd.
Gill, I. (1989). The History and Techniques of the Great Masters. London: Tiger Books International Ltd.
Honour, H. & Fleming, J. (2002). A World History of Art. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
Kleiner, F., Mamiya, C., & Tansey, R. (2001). Gardner's Art Through The Ages. Vol.II. N.Y.: Harcourt College Publishers.
Wirtz, Rolf C. (2000). Art and Architecture: Florence. Oldenburg: Konemann.
