Titian
Author of lives of saints, scurrilous verses, comedies, tragedies, and innumerable letters, Pietro Aretino (1492–1556) attained considerable wealth and influence, in part through literary flattery and blackmail. Little is known of his early years, but by 1527 he had settled permanently in Venice. Among Aretino’s friends and patrons were some of the most prominent figures of his time, several of whom gave him gold chains such as the one he wears in this portrait. Clement VII made Aretino a Knight of Rhodes, and Julius III named him Knight of St. Peter. He was on intimate terms with Titian, who painted at least three portraits of him. Here the artist conveys his friend’s intellectual power through the keen, forceful head and his worldliness through the solid, weighty mass of the richly robed figure.
Titian was recognized by his contemporaries as "The Sun Amidst Small Stars" (recalling the final line of Dante's Paradiso). He was one of the most versatile of Italian painters, equally adept with portraits, landscape backgrounds, and mythological and religious subjects.
We present this amazing portrait thanks to The Frick Collection. Have a great Monday!
P.S. Did you know that Titian delivered a series of seven large canvases to King Phillip II of Spain? He coined the term Poesie to describe them: paintings that are poems. Check them out here!