The Three Ages of Man (Titian)
Encyclopedia
The Three Ages of Man is a painting by Titian
, dated to around 1512 and now displayed at the National Gallery of Scotland
in Edinburgh
. The 90 cm by 151 cm High Renaissance
art work was most likely influenced by Giorgione
’s themes and motifs of landscapes and nude figures--Titian was known to have completed some of Giorgione’s unfinished works after Giorgione died at age 33 of the plague in 1510. The painting represents the artist’s conception of the life cycle. Childhood and manhood are synonymous with earthly love and death approaching old age are drawn realistically. Titian’s widely chosen topic in art history, ages of man, mixed with his own allegorical interpretation make The Three Ages of Man one of Titian’s most famous works.
for his stepfather Giovanni di Castel Bolognese at Faenza
, dated to 1515. Critics have also dated it slightly earlier, due to the three sleeping putti to the right, evidently modelled on the Tondo of the innocents by Romanino (Musei civici di Padova), which dates to 1513. Several copies of it are known, one of the best of which is that at Rome's Doria Pamphilj Gallery
.
After being painted the masterpiece fell into the hands of Matthaus Hopfer. He was known to have a house in the Grottenau filled with ‘poetic fable’ frescoes. After his death in 1611 it was passed down to the Ebert family, before being put into the Augsburg
market. In 1662 Queen Christina of Sweden passed through the city on her way from the Netherlands
to Rome
. It was listed in her collection at Palazzo Riario in Rome in 1662. There are no verified records of the next exchange between Giovanni da Castel Bolognese and Otto Truchsess von Waldburg
but it is a known fact that, at some point, the painting was in the care of both of their hands. Giovanni, a famous gem-engraver and medallist, was recorded as the next owner. Otto was a leading figure at the Habsburg court and a prominent art patron. Before the painting made its way to the museum it was recorded to have made its final presentation in Giovanni’s home in Faenza
. Prince Odescalchi gave it to the duke of Orléans
in 1722 and it remained in the Orleans Collection
until 1798. It was purchased with much of that collection by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
, whose descendents later deposited his whole collection with the National Gallery of Scotland for storage and display.
’s song”. In the background a plump angel floats over two babies protecting and mirroring their purity. In the background, at the end of his long life, a bearded old man gazes at two skulls in terror or wonder (it is not clear). The detailed scenery reflects the glory and decline of nature. The trees in the foreground reflected the remnants of summer landscape. The philosopher tells us, “In life, we are in death”. This painting is revolutionary. It not only explores a questionable subject, one without an answer, it also explores infants, children’s frightening death rate, a touchy subject of the time. People of all ages are shown in the cycle of life because it was normal for people of any age to die. This subject makes the painting modern, and made it one of the most inspirational pieces of its time. Because Titian helped Giorgione finish his work, Titian was not given credit in the 1800s for his masterpiece.
Titian
Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...
, dated to around 1512 and now displayed at the National Gallery of Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. The 90 cm by 151 cm High Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
art work was most likely influenced by Giorgione
Giorgione
Giorgione was a Venetian painter of the High Renaissance in Venice, whose career was cut off by his death at a little over thirty. Giorgione is known for the elusive poetic quality of his work, though only about six surviving paintings are acknowledged for certain to be his work...
’s themes and motifs of landscapes and nude figures--Titian was known to have completed some of Giorgione’s unfinished works after Giorgione died at age 33 of the plague in 1510. The painting represents the artist’s conception of the life cycle. Childhood and manhood are synonymous with earthly love and death approaching old age are drawn realistically. Titian’s widely chosen topic in art history, ages of man, mixed with his own allegorical interpretation make The Three Ages of Man one of Titian’s most famous works.
History
It was traditionally identified with a painting that Vasari states Titian painted after returning from FerraraFerrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
for his stepfather Giovanni di Castel Bolognese at Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
, dated to 1515. Critics have also dated it slightly earlier, due to the three sleeping putti to the right, evidently modelled on the Tondo of the innocents by Romanino (Musei civici di Padova), which dates to 1513. Several copies of it are known, one of the best of which is that at Rome's Doria Pamphilj Gallery
Doria Pamphilj Gallery
The Doria Pamphilj Gallery is a large art collection housed in the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy. It is situated between the Via del Corso and Via della Gatta. The principal entrance is on the Via del Corso...
.
After being painted the masterpiece fell into the hands of Matthaus Hopfer. He was known to have a house in the Grottenau filled with ‘poetic fable’ frescoes. After his death in 1611 it was passed down to the Ebert family, before being put into the Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
market. In 1662 Queen Christina of Sweden passed through the city on her way from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. It was listed in her collection at Palazzo Riario in Rome in 1662. There are no verified records of the next exchange between Giovanni da Castel Bolognese and Otto Truchsess von Waldburg
Otto Truchsess von Waldburg
Otto Truchsess von Waldburg was Prince-Bishop of Augsburg from 1543 until his death and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church.-Childhood and Education:...
but it is a known fact that, at some point, the painting was in the care of both of their hands. Giovanni, a famous gem-engraver and medallist, was recorded as the next owner. Otto was a leading figure at the Habsburg court and a prominent art patron. Before the painting made its way to the museum it was recorded to have made its final presentation in Giovanni’s home in Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
. Prince Odescalchi gave it to the duke of Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
in 1722 and it remained in the Orleans Collection
Orleans Collection
The Orleans Collection was a very important collection of over 500 paintings formed by the French prince of the blood Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, mostly acquired between about 1700 and his death in 1723...
until 1798. It was purchased with much of that collection by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater
Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater , known as Lord Francis Egerton until 1748, was a British nobleman, the younger son of the 1st Duke...
, whose descendents later deposited his whole collection with the National Gallery of Scotland for storage and display.
Content
"The Three Ages of Man" reflects Titian’s attitude towards each stage of life. To the left he paints the joys of youth. The firmly muscled mature male is being tantalized by a young girl dressed provocatively. She holds two flutes urging him on with her “SirenSiren
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
’s song”. In the background a plump angel floats over two babies protecting and mirroring their purity. In the background, at the end of his long life, a bearded old man gazes at two skulls in terror or wonder (it is not clear). The detailed scenery reflects the glory and decline of nature. The trees in the foreground reflected the remnants of summer landscape. The philosopher tells us, “In life, we are in death”. This painting is revolutionary. It not only explores a questionable subject, one without an answer, it also explores infants, children’s frightening death rate, a touchy subject of the time. People of all ages are shown in the cycle of life because it was normal for people of any age to die. This subject makes the painting modern, and made it one of the most inspirational pieces of its time. Because Titian helped Giorgione finish his work, Titian was not given credit in the 1800s for his masterpiece.