Diane et Callisto

1516–1517

First Painter of the Republic of Venice

After the death of Giovanni Bellini, the “patriarch of Venetian painting”, in November 1516 Titian was given the title of First Painter of the Republic (he had petitioned for the post as early as 1513). The title carried a decent salary but obliged him to paint portraits of newly elected doges for a symbolic fee; Titian kept it until his death.

1533

Bologna: Count Palatine and Knight of the Golden Spur

In 1533, after painting a portrait of Emperor Charles V in Bologna, Titian was made a Count Palatine and Knight of the Golden Spur; his children were reportedly also made nobles of the Empire. He was court painter to Charles V from 1533 and received from him a heavy gold chain.

1545–1546

A triumphant trip to Rome

In 1545–1546 Titian made a triumphant trip to Rome, painting portraits of Pope Paul III and meeting Michelangelo. Returning to Venice, he found that the most lucrative commissions were going to other, younger artists.

1547–1548

Augsburg: the “Equestrian Portrait of Charles V”

In 1547 Titian was summoned from Venice to Augsburg to paint portraits of Charles V and other dignitaries; at the Diet in early 1548 he completed six paintings, among them the “Equestrian Portrait of Charles V”. He also made the emperor aware that he had not received a single payment of his stipend, and on 10 July 1548 Charles V granted him a second annual pension of 100 scudi.

27 August 1576

Dies at the height of the plague

While the plague raged in Venice, Titian died on 27 August 1576; given the modern scholarly consensus on his birth date, he would have been at least eighty-six years old and no more than ninety.

27. August 1576

Died