Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian, painted Venus and Adonis in about 1554; during a period known as the High Renaissance. Venus and Adonis is a workshop copy of one of Titian’s earlier paintings of the same name, created as a part of a six-piece series commissioned by King Phillip II of Spain. Titian called the paintings in this series ‘poesie’, or poems, because each illustrates a mythological story inspired by ‘Metamorphoses’ by the Roman poet Ovid. Titian’s other works in this series include Danaë, Perseus and Andromeda, The Rape of Europa, Diana Callisto, and Diana and Actaeon. Through Titian’s artistic method, use of symbolism, and his own personal history; he was able to create a painting that was uniquely Renaissance.
-History …show more content…
In Venus and Adonis, Titian makes use of his notable method of employing visible brushstrokes. The brushstrokes are free, spontaneous, and loose; which gives the painting a sense of movement as well as energy and urgency. Some areas of the painting are even painted by finger. Through his use of visible brushstrokes, Titian seems to compress the narrative into one intense movement. Venus, being a goddess, knows that Adonis, a mere mortal, will be killed by a wild boar if he goes hunting. In an attempt to stop him, she holds onto his body to prevent him from leaving, but the three dogs seem to be pulling Adonis away as if they have already sensed the prey. Titian places the most tension on Adonis’ arm that is being pulled by the dogs; the thick colour creates a sharp contour. The fact that more tension is placed on Adonis’ left side suggests that despite Venus’ attempt to make him stay, her love is not strong enough and he will still leave to …show more content…
As well as being a symbol of the aggressive and brutal mortal world, the dogs depicted could also represent female seductiveness; though more so, the denial of female seductiveness, as they are illustrated pulling away from Venus. Titian’s Venus and Adonis is a magnificent example of a High Renaissance painting with a mythological, rather than religious theme. Through his use of visible, fast brushstrokes, Titian was able to precisely illustrate the motion-filled story of Venus and Adonis in his ‘poesie’ as recorded in Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’. Titian considered art to be the visual representation of poetry and through his artistic methods and use of symbolism, he was able to make that statement
-History …show more content…
In Venus and Adonis, Titian makes use of his notable method of employing visible brushstrokes. The brushstrokes are free, spontaneous, and loose; which gives the painting a sense of movement as well as energy and urgency. Some areas of the painting are even painted by finger. Through his use of visible brushstrokes, Titian seems to compress the narrative into one intense movement. Venus, being a goddess, knows that Adonis, a mere mortal, will be killed by a wild boar if he goes hunting. In an attempt to stop him, she holds onto his body to prevent him from leaving, but the three dogs seem to be pulling Adonis away as if they have already sensed the prey. Titian places the most tension on Adonis’ arm that is being pulled by the dogs; the thick colour creates a sharp contour. The fact that more tension is placed on Adonis’ left side suggests that despite Venus’ attempt to make him stay, her love is not strong enough and he will still leave to …show more content…
As well as being a symbol of the aggressive and brutal mortal world, the dogs depicted could also represent female seductiveness; though more so, the denial of female seductiveness, as they are illustrated pulling away from Venus. Titian’s Venus and Adonis is a magnificent example of a High Renaissance painting with a mythological, rather than religious theme. Through his use of visible, fast brushstrokes, Titian was able to precisely illustrate the motion-filled story of Venus and Adonis in his ‘poesie’ as recorded in Ovid’s ‘Metamorphoses’. Titian considered art to be the visual representation of poetry and through his artistic methods and use of symbolism, he was able to make that statement