Artwork
Imaginary Self-Portrait of Titian
Imaginary Self-Portrait of Titian is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Pietro della Vecchia. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right on wood block held by sitter: T. VECELLIVS P./ AET.LXXXIV. / ANNO MDLXI.
About this work
An old man, meant to be Titian, holds a brush and stands before a sculpture, looking out at the viewer. Pietro della Vecchia, a lesser-known painter, made it in 1654. An artist portraying another artist this way was unusual for the time.
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of these objects also references the Renaissance paragone debate over the relative merits of painting and sculpture.
The painting is an imaginary self-portrait of the Renaissance master Titian, created by Pietro della Vecchia around 1650. Rather than a life likeness, it offers an idealized image of the artist. Titian is depicted holding a brush and is accompanied by a sculpture, attributes that symbolize his dual mastery of painting and his engagement with sculptural form.
The inclusion of these objects also references the Renaissance paragone debate over the relative merits of painting and sculpture. As a work of the Venetian school, this portrait functions as a reverent homage, celebrating Titian's enduring legacy and artistic identity through constructed iconography.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 112.2 by 93.7 cm. Dated to 1650, it reflects the Venetian school style of Pietro della Vecchia, who created this imaginary portrait. The composition presents Titian holding a brush and accompanied by a sculpture, representing his identity as a painter. Due to the lack of condition reports, no assessment of preservation is possible.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1650 by Pietro della Vecchia. Its earliest recorded owner is possibly Cavaliere Francesco Fontana in Venice by 1676. By 1894 it was in Rome with Paolo Paolini, who sold it in New York in 1924 to R. M. Catts.
It later passed through Van Diemen Galleries and entered the collection of William Robert and Lillian Guyer Timken by 1931. The Timkens bequeathed it to the National Gallery of Art in 1960.
The painting is held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection via the bequest of William Robert Timken and Lillian Guyer Timken in 1960. The gallery's provenance records confirm the work passed through several private collections before that bequest. No exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
This oil on canvas, titled Imaginary Self-Portrait of Titian, presents an elderly man, commonly identified as the celebrated Renaissance painter Titian, holding a brush. The figure stands before a sculptural element, directing his gaze outward toward the observer. This painting is distinctive for its portrayal of one artist by another, a less common theme, and was created by an artist whose identity is not widely recognized.
Context
The creation of an "imaginary self-portrait" of a revered figure like Titian by a lesser-known artist speaks to the enduring influence and status of the Renaissance master. Such a work might have served as an act of artistic admiration, a study in portraiture, or a means for the artist to align themselves with a celebrated tradition. It offers insight into how artists of the time engaged with the legacies of their predecessors.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro della Vecchia, Pietro della Vècchia or Pietro Vècchia, formerly incorrectly called Pietro Muttoni (1603 – 8 September 1678) was a versatile Venetian artist between late Mannerism and early Baroque, who worked in…
