Tiziano a.k.a. Titian

Titian is one of the most amazing Italian Renaissance artists of the 16th century. We saw lots of Titian's paintings in Florence at the Uffizi and at the Pitti Palace but there were also a ton in Venice like at the Gallerie dell'Accademia. On the last day, before the long train ride home, we went to a church, called Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Ferari, which holds Titian's painting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It always amazing when we actually get to see a masterpiece in its original location and not just in a museum. Now don't get me wrong, I could spend all day in museums, and trust me we did. But I just wanted to share this stunning painting with all the of you. It's really interesting to break down the layers in the compostion from God at the top, to the Virgin, to the Apostales at the bottom. I also found it interesting that if you look at the top of painting, which represents the virgin going up to heaven, and then the bottom of the image, which is living people on earth pushing her up, there is a clear circle formed by the curved top of the piece and then the curve of the cloud under Mary's feet. This was very interesting to me because at the time of image it was believed that heaven was above the spheres of the universe and that it was perfect like a circle. So it would make sense for Titian to show her going to heaven in circle and to frame the bottom half of the image in a rectangle keeping it more grounded. Just some crazy art history thoughts to think about. P.S. I know the picture is dark at the top but I took it myself in a dark church so what can I say. But thats God up there with angels, surrounded by little baby heads with wings (Cherubs or Putti.)