Titian's Painting Technique Before 1540

Titian (active 1506; died 1576) is acclaimed as the greatest of the Venetian masters. His technique has long fascinated painters and collectors, and his use of oil paints and the richly colored pigments available to him in Venice influenced the subsequent history of European painting. The National Gallery, London, is home to an outstanding group of Titian’s paintings, and this special edition of its annual Technical Bulletin is dedicated to the study of the artist during the first part of his career. An introductory essay focuses on Titian’s painting technique, from its origins in the workshops of Venice and the Veneto, through close examination of nine works in the gallery’s collection, including the stunning Bacchus and Ariadne (1520?23). The authors also discuss significant early works from other collections, such as The Triumph of Love (about 1544?6). New research and discoveries, published here for the first time, will be essential reading for Titian scholars and enthusiasts alike.