Titian In Venice I

Titian, or Tiziano Vecellio, is one of the greatest artists to ever come out of Venice. Although, while he is celebrated as a big player in the Venetian Renaissance, he was actually born in Pieve di Cadore. However, he came to be an instrumental figure in Venetian art and many of his works still remain in that great city. If you want to see the city in a different way, why not follow his art around Venice? Many works occupy churches and cost nothing to visit, plus you'll see a lot more of Venice and some beautiful church interiors as you go about finding them. Just find a holiday rental in Venice and use our list to locate some of Titian's hidden gems in the city.

Santa Maria della Salute, a basilica consecrated in 1681, features several works by Titian and is a great place to start in order to get an introduction to the artist and a taste of his art. The striking, octagonal building is a beauty in its own right. Titian contributed multiple scenes to the interior in the sacristy altarpiece, tondi, great sacristy, nave and ceiling. One of the altarpiece images is his “St Mark Enthroned”, a rather typical religious piece which is full of symbolism. Painted as an offering in the wake of the plague which afflicted Venice at the time, it features Mark (the patron saint of Venice), Saints Roch and Sebastian (protectors against the disease) and Saints Cosmas and Damian (who were doctors).

The ceiling paintings of Old Testament subjects, by contrast, are a little more appealing to modern eyes. Dynamic and dramatic, they are executed with theatrical lighting and in the fleshy realism that Titian was known for. It is hard not to flinch a little upon seeing the figures violently struggling against each other.

The “Cain Slaying Abel” and “David and Goliath” scenes, in particular, are striking with their spiralling movement and dramatic poses. In the former, Cain is shown mid act with his foot upon Abel all the while Abel lies helpless and flailing (almost in a comical manner) on the ground below him.

Whereas, in the latter work, the deed is done and David casts his eyes and hands to the sky above where the leaden sky is rent by his grace which slips through in a dramatic band of light. Goliath lies twisted and broken before him.

For a tour of Titian's works in Venice, there is no better place to start as this church is jam-packed with fantastic examples. You'll rarely see so many works by an artist of this scale in one place outside of a gallery, today. If you're still looking to see more of Titian, however, check out our second article on his works in Venice.