Titian's Vision of Women:

The dominant role of female beauty in sixteenth-century Venice is unique both inthe history of the Republic and other parts of the world. One reason for this is theSerenissimaÆs distinctive political-social structure, which granted women special rightsin connection with their dowry and their ability to inherit, another was VeniceÆs pivotal role as an international cultural centre. The rise of influential publishing housesattracted renowned poets and humanists such as Pietro Bembo, Sperone Speroni andLodovico Dolce, who in their writings increasingly focused on women and their vitalrole for the family and the continuation of humanity as such. The crucial impetus forthe visual realisation of this idea came from the SerenissimaÆs greatest artist: Titian.For him, artistic beauty was identical with female beauty. He was less interested inthe canon of exterior beauty than in a womenÆs character, in femininity as such. Titianelevates every depiction of a woman into a celebration of womanhood.

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Sylvia Ferino is former director of the Paintings Gallery of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.