XI. Citian
Born in the Year 1480. Was the Disciple of Giorgion, whom he so nearly imitated, while he was under him, that some of his Works were not only supposed to be his Masters, but the best of them; which so anger'd him, that he turned him off, for fear he should one day eclipse the Reputation he had ob∣tain'd in the Art; which yet, notwithstanding, he failed not to do; insomuch that the Senate of Venice taking notice of his Merits, made him Painter to their Republick; by which Titian was obliged to make with his own hands the Portraits of all the Doges that were elected in his time, which were to be hung up in the Palace of St. Mark. Some time after he went to the Duke of Ferrara, for whom (amongst other things) he made a Venus accompanied with the Graces, and some Cupids; who never appeared so lovely to the eyes of Paris, as he has represented her in that Piece; he painted also the said Duke as big as the Life, leaning with his Elbow on a Piece of Can∣non; for which he was well rewarded, and extremely ap∣plauded. After this he returned to Venice, being obliged thereunto by the Duty of his place, and painted a great many Pieces, which serve to this day for an Ornament to their Churches, and most sumptuous Houses; particularly that in the Church of St. Giovanni Epolo, of St. Peter the Martyr is most considerable; the Saint who is something bigger than the Life, appears fallen on the Ground in a Wood; a Soldier attacks him, and gives him such a mortal Wound in the Head, that the horrer of Death appears in his Face, while his Compani∣on flying, shews an extraordinary apprehension; In the Air are two Angels environ'd with a sudden Glory that enlightens the Landskip; which way of embelishing his Pieces by Land∣skips he learnt of the German Painters, it being a thing not usual among the Italians before: Francis the I King of France coming with an Army into Italy, sent for him to his Camp to draw his picture, the like he did for the Emperor Charles the fifth armed Cap a pee which was so highly valued that he re∣cerved ten thousand Crowns for a reward. Also for an Annun∣ciation, which he presented the said Emperor, he received two thousand Crowns. In the, year 1546 he was invited to Rome, and presented to the Pope by Cardinal Farnese, who ordered him a lodging in the Belveder, where seeing so many glorious productions of Art, he was resolved also to leave some Monuments of his renowned pencil, which while he was do∣ing, Michael Angelo desirous to be better acquainted with a person, whose fame he had heard so much of, went often to see him, and could not deny him the praise that was due to his extraordinary merit, adding that he excelled in the round∣ness of his faces and the softness of his Carnation, and that if Titian had been but acquainted with the Antiquities of Rome, he would infallibly have surpassed the greatest masters, of the age. Titian having given satisfaction to the Pope and the best Artists in Rome returned again to Venice laden with honour and wealth. At his arrival he drew Mary Queen-Dowager of Hungary A Prometheus chained to mount Caucasus; Sysiphus rolling the stone in Hell. Tyrius gnawed on by Vulturs. Tantalus gaping after the Apples that fly away from him, and other excellent Pieces of the Poetical Fictions, which since came into the possession of Phillip the second of Spaine and were put into the Escurial. Our Saviour's last Supper which he made for the said King Phillip is a piece of extraordinary beauty and very great, being seven yards long. It is almost incredible what a great number of Portraits he drew of the several Princes and men of Quality in his time. The Emperor Charles the fifth who like Alexander would be drawn by none but this Apelles, was drawn three times by him, for every one of which he received one thousand Crownes, over and above an annual pension of two thousand Crownes out of the Chamber of Naples, and the honour of Knighthood, so that he grew exceeding rich, and arrived to an high degree of honour and reputation; He was of an admirable Constitution; having never been sick in all his life-time, ever pleasant and free; His house was the resort of all the Ingenious, and persons of the best Quality, he himself being extreme well bred and courteous. He had so great a love to his Art, that he continued his Labors therein, till he was fourscore and six years of age, at last he died of the plague at Venice, in the nineteenth year of his age.