Ofrenda a Venus Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (1488/90-1576)

Description of Titian Vechellio’s painting The Feast of Venus

Mythological and biblical subjects occupied a significant place in the artist’s work. However, his deep insight into issues of psychology allowed him to create remarkably vivid, realistic images.

"The Feast of Venus" is one of three paintings that were conceived as a cycle, commissioned by Duke Alfonso d’Este. The canvases were intended to be placed in the alabaster study of his residence. This was reflected in the composition, where the figure of the statue of Venus was moved to the right, which allows us to concentrate our gaze on the cupids and the landscape that stretches out behind them.

The vivid colors, amazing plasticity of each figure and the mass of detailed minutiae creates a remarkably realistic image. The fictional story in front of your eyes turns into a virtually everyday mise-en-scene. One gets the impression that every character in the painting is actually living, having fun and enjoying the beauty and splendor of nature. Each infant figure is highlighted with the help of light and shade, they frolic on the grass among the rolling red-skinned apples. The blue stripe of sky and tall trees that line the left and the static figure of the marble Venus on the left serve as a natural frame for the clearing.

The contrast between the indifferent stone of the statue and the rampant life of the cupids is emphasized by the different shades of the same color. The lifeless glow of the statue watching the action in the clearing and the warm colors of the cupids’ figures bathed in the sunlight draw the eye. And makes us stare again and again in a vain attempt to unravel the secret of the great Renaissance artist’s skill.