DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51585#0233
TITIAN.
229
in her hand—the face still bearing traces of that
beauty for which she was celebrated.
It appears that Titian was married about 1512 ;
but of his wife we do not hear anything more. It
is said that her name was Lucia, and we know that
she bore him three children, two sons, and a
daughter called Lavinia. It seems probable, on a
comparison of dates, that she died about the year
1530.
One of the earliest works on which Titian was
engaged was the decoration of the convent of St.
Antony at Padua, in which he executed a series of
frescoes from the life of St. Antony. He was next
summoned to Ferrara by the Duke Alphonso I.,
and was employed in his service for at least two
years. He painted for this prince the beautiful
picture of Bacchus and Ariadne, which is now
in our National Gallery, and which presents on a
small scale an epitome of all the beauties which
characterise Titian, in the rich, picturesque, ani-
mated composition, in the ardour of Bacchus, who
flings himself from his car to pursue Ariadne ; the
dancing bacchanals, the frantic grace of the bac-
chante, and the little joyous satyr in front, trailing
the head of the sacrifice. He painted for the same
prince two other festive subjects : one in which a
nymph and two men are dancing, while another
nymph lies asleep ; and a third in which a number
of children and cupids are sporting round a statue
l 3
229
in her hand—the face still bearing traces of that
beauty for which she was celebrated.
It appears that Titian was married about 1512 ;
but of his wife we do not hear anything more. It
is said that her name was Lucia, and we know that
she bore him three children, two sons, and a
daughter called Lavinia. It seems probable, on a
comparison of dates, that she died about the year
1530.
One of the earliest works on which Titian was
engaged was the decoration of the convent of St.
Antony at Padua, in which he executed a series of
frescoes from the life of St. Antony. He was next
summoned to Ferrara by the Duke Alphonso I.,
and was employed in his service for at least two
years. He painted for this prince the beautiful
picture of Bacchus and Ariadne, which is now
in our National Gallery, and which presents on a
small scale an epitome of all the beauties which
characterise Titian, in the rich, picturesque, ani-
mated composition, in the ardour of Bacchus, who
flings himself from his car to pursue Ariadne ; the
dancing bacchanals, the frantic grace of the bac-
chante, and the little joyous satyr in front, trailing
the head of the sacrifice. He painted for the same
prince two other festive subjects : one in which a
nymph and two men are dancing, while another
nymph lies asleep ; and a third in which a number
of children and cupids are sporting round a statue
l 3