The life of Titian Author:James Northcote Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER XXVII. VASARI VISITS TITIAN HIS LATTER WORKS HIS DEATH. — GENERAL REMARKS ON THE VENETIAN SCHOOL. In the year 156G, Vasari, who afterwards wrote... more » the life of Titian, took a journey to Venice, and paid a visit to the great painter. He found him grown very old, being then in the eighty-sixth year of his age : but still with his pencil in his hand, and diligently at work. Vasari expresses the great pleasure he received from seeing his works ; and also from his conversation. He was likewise introduced by Titian to M. Gran Maria Verdezetti, a young Venetian gentleman of extraordinary abilities, and an excellent painter of landscapes, in which he had been instructed by Titian, who behaved to him like a father. He had two pictures by Titian in two niches, one an Apollo, the other a Diana. "I know," says Dolce, "that few of the lower rank can boast the having any portrait or other picture by Titian. Our Titian (as he calls him) is then in painting divine and unequalled ; nor ought Apelles himself, were he alive, to disdain to do him honour. But, besides his wonderful excellence in painting, he has many other qualities worthy of the highest praise. In the first place, he is extremely modest, never wounding invidiously any painter's character; but speaking honourably of every one who deserves it. He also is a most elegant speaker, of a most perfect genius and judgment in all things ; of a gentle and placid temper, very affable, and of the most delicate manners; insomuch that whoever once approaches him must always love him." This is the character given of Titian by a cotemporary and a friend. In the year 1574, Titian being then in the ninety-fourth year of his age, Henry the Third came from Poland (where he had been King) to take possession of the Throne of France, ...« less