El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-19
TitIan,s Early Work.


within the next 200 years TO surpass
all others in brilliancy. and to rival
that Of Florence in ability
Titfan's Early Work
At the zenith Of culture in Venice
We find the celebrated Titan From
early childhood ne PAINTED There is
j legend that when a child. he did not
use ordinary chalk or charcoal but
that the juices OF flowers were his
childish colOrs- His Partially for
fine landscape deep blue skies, and
mountain scenery. so often visible in
the background OF his pictures, is
traced back TO the beautiful scenes
surrounding his birthplace When
nine years old his father took him
from his urban home 10 Venice, and
placed him under the tutelage Of a
painter and worker in mosaic From
this school he went to that Of the
Bellini. where he gained new ideas
Of art and color. In the prime OF life
Titan was left without a rival For
a few years he spent his time deco
rating the palaces OF the Venetian
mobiles Then he was summoned to
Ferrara by the duke A1phouso 7.
where ne remained several years
painting for this prince some Of his
finest works. There he made Dor
traits Of the court beauties. which are
unsurpassed today. He delighted In
delineatinE women While he was
more familiar with the material than
never degenerated into coarseness.
His magnificent women appear as
far above ordinary life as they are
below sainthood, yet they seem TO
grow as naturally under his brush as
glowing flowers in tropical sunshine"
II was at this time that Leo X invited
Titan to Rome But Titan was tired
OF courts and princes and longed 70
20 to his home and friends in Venice.
At this time he painted his great pic
ture. The Assumption OF the Virgin"
A Later Visit.
Later q second invitation 20 Rome
by pope Paul III took Titan thither
where he left many wonderful exam
Piles OF his art He vas already in his
10th year, when Charles ' OF Spain,
his patron and ardent admirer. COM
manded the artist 70 come TO his court
at Au sEburE. The emperor az 50 was
far older than the painter at 20. An
Incident Is related that Is supposed
10 have taken place there: Titan
dropped his pencil and Charles. tax
ing It ID and presenting 1t. replied TO
the artists excuses that Titan was
worthy Of being served by CaeseE"
Upon the death Of Charles. his success
sor became Titiau's patron, but Phil
III II evaded his debts and the artist
went unrecompensed- He returned to
Venice where he opened a luxurious
home 70 his friends and patrons.
Every distinguished man Of the age
was eager TO have Titan paint his
portrait he kept many OF his works
TO present 10 his friends 10 gain their
favor. For half a century he lived
amid pleasure and social gayeties.
Probably no other painter in the
worlds history was ever granted so
e n a. g.
art He grew in excellence as he
grew in age When in 1875 the plague
ravaged Italy. Titan and his son were
its victims The artist was 90 years
old Historians tell US that he was
robbed upon his death bed by a band
Of ruffians, who broke into his house
and carried off his jewels and pic
lures. His only remaining child, a
worthless son. came from Milan TO
Venice, sold the rest Of his property
and soon squandered all his inheri-
lance. Titan was buried in the church
OF the Frari-the Senate. In considera-
tion OF his renown, having departed
from the usual rule OF refusing honor
able burial 70 the victims OF the
plague
with the passing OF Titan. passed
the glory OF Venetian art Pope Julius
H. with the emepror Of Germany, and
the kings OF France and Spain. sub
subdued Venice During the French
revolution IL became a part Of Austria,
and after that country was defeated
by Prussia the city and province Of
Venice was ceded 70 Napoleon III
Later II was united with the kingdom
Of Italy. The last pope was chosen
from Venice. England had become q
powerful maritime nation and de-
stroyec her sea commerce And so
the glory Of Venice faded In q state
Of decay the imperial city is almost