Titian Essays by Charles Hope and others Catalogue edited by David Jaffe

"Titian was, and remains, one of the greatest of Renaissance painters. He painted for Europe's most powerful ruling families and the presence of his works in collections worldwide is a mark of his repute. Despite the traditional British love for the work of Titian, this country has never seen a monograph exhibition, although the Royal Academy's Genius of Venice showed the brilliance of the sixteenth-century Venetian school, with Titian as its brightest star." From the Director's Foreword "The National Gallery is fortunate to count some eleven paintings by Titian in its collection. The driving force behind this exhibition was to place these works within a meaningful context, making confrontations that will lead to an enhanced understanding of the nation's pictures. Whilst we have endeavored to represent works by Titian from other British collections, we have strived to maintain a balanced selection of images, in terms of dating, quality and attribution. The strength of the collection - in the early works of Titian in particular - are very much reflected in the exhibition… " …The magnitude of Titian' creative power is witnessed in this exhibition, demonstrating how he stayed at the pinnacle of artistic achievement throughout his life. His ability to reinvent ideas and styles, sustained over so long a period, has remained uncontested since his death. This exhibition represents the team effort of many National Gallery staff, past and present." From the Curator's Introduction