About The Artist - Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (1485 - August 27, 1576)

Tiziano Vecelli was an Italian painter better known as Titian, the leader of the Venetian school of Italian Renaissance.

About The Painting - Venus of Urbino

Titian had exemplified a unique style of painting that made his compositions priceless. He laid more emphasis on bold diagonal compositions, which were highlighted with colorful brushstrokes and bright composition. His insightful works of art had made him one of the classic portrait painters of the century. He was even made the knight of the Golden Spur by Emperor Charles V.

Titian's The Venus of Urbino is an exclusive oil painting with the central subject being a nude young woman. According to Titian, the nude woman in his painting is goddess Venus. Some where the painting is a mix of mythology, modernism and symbolism. On the foreground, goddess Venus is reclining on a bed in a Renaissance palace and there is a child, a dog and a fully dressed woman in the background. The painting brings out a subtleness and aloofness that can be linked to most of Titian's art works.

The highlight of The Venus of Urbino is the expression on the face of the goddess Venus. She seems to be staring right back at the viewer without being concerned about her nudity. She can be seen holding flowers in her right hand while her left hand is covering her pubic area. This posture presents a fine blend of provocation and seductiveness to the composition. The dog in the background stands for fidelity and has been shown as fast asleep.

The Venus of Urbino was painted in such a way that it beautifully depicted the sublime erotic element that seems unmistakably real. Today, The Venus of Urbino by Titian is hanging in the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Italy.