The great Venetian master of the Renaissance Titian was given as a child to the workshop of the Venetian mosaicist S. Dzukkato, later studied at J. Bellini, worked in the studio of Giorgione, and after his death completed work on the unfinished pictures of the teacher. The artist worked in almost all genres.
In the 1520-1530’s he became the leading portraitist of Italy. Under his leadership a large workshop was working. The portrait of the Doge Andrea Gritti is sometimes called heroic. The artist created an image of a powerful, severe, full mighty power and energy of a man, which is emphasized by the majesty of the pose, strong-willed foreshortening, a somewhat aggressive, frowning look and a closed hand.
This man was born to rule – so the contemporaries spoke of Gritti. Bold and decisive in politics, Gritti also boldly made a remake of the famous Venetian Square of St. Mark, having ordered to decorate it with buildings of Sansovino – friend of Titian. The artist created not only a heroic portrait, but also a poem in colors, dedicated to one of the best figures of the Venetian Republic of that time.
The portrait was unfinished, perhaps in connection with the death of the Doge. Other famous works: “Venus and Adonis.” 1554. Prado, Madrid; “Penitent Mary Magdalene.” 1560’s. The Hermitage, St. Petersburg; “Danae.” OK. 1554. The Hermitage, St. Petersburg.
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