Rebuilding The Renaissance

Latest Episodes:

Episode 231 - Titian's "Perseus and Andromeda" (Wallace Collection, London) Jun 21, 2023

Show notes

This painting is the last of six paintings that make up Titian's extraordinary "Poesie" series for King Philip II of Spain. Of all six, it is in the worst state of conservation and went through major compositional changes while it was being painted. Nevertheless, the "Perseus and Andromeda" is an important work of beauty, innovation, and visual interpretation of a classical literary source.

Episode 230 – Titian's "Rape of Europa" (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston) Jun 14, 2023

Show notes

One of the greatest masterpieces of Italian Renaissance painting, Titian's painting depicts the abduction of the nymph Europa by Jupiter, who has disguised himself as a bull. Titian employs all of his painterly skill to create a dazzling array of textures, colors, and images that coalesce into a hypnotically beautiful work of art.

Episode 229 – Titian's "Diana and Callisto" (National Galleries, London and Edinburgh) Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Part of Titian's magnificent "Poesie" series which he painted for King Philp II of Spain in the 1550s, the "Diana and Callisto" represents the exposure of the pregnancy of the nymph Callisto who had been loved by Jupiter.

Episode 228 – Titian's "Diana and Acteon" (National Galleries, London and Edinburgh) May 31, 2023

Show notes

The third of six paintings constituting Titian's famous "Poesie" series for King Philip II of Spain, "Diana and Acteon" represents a mythological account of divine punishment. A hapless hunter named Acteon stumbles upon Diana, goddess of chastity and of the hunt, and is punished for violating her decency by being transformed into a stag and killed by his own hounds.

Episode 227 – Titian's "Venus and Adonis" (Prado Museum, Madrid) May 24, 2023

Show notes

Part of Titian's six mythological paintings for King Philip II of Spain known as the "Poesie," the innovative and sensual "Venus and Adonis" was the most popular. We know this because some 30 versions of the painting exist today, all of which can be traced back to 2 main prime types – the Prado and the Farnese versions – both of which are discussed in this episode.

Episode 226 - Titian's "Danaë" (Capodimonte Museum, Naples) May 17, 2023

Show notes

In 1544, Titian produced the first of at least six versions of the Danaë subject for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, nephew of Pope Paul III. Shortly thereafter, a second version was painted and sent to King Phillip II of Spain. The immense popularity of Titian's sensual painting style combined with the erotic nature of the subject made the "Danaë" one of the most famous paintings of Renaissance Europe.

Episode 225 - Titian's "Poesie" Paintings May 10, 2023

Show notes

Titian's six "poesie" – or "painted poems" – depict subjects from classical mythology and were painted for King Philip II of Spain. The paintings represent a landmark in the history of western art and exemplify the Venetian master's late style that was characterized by dramatic subjects, sensual forms, and loose, almost "impressionistic" brushwork.

Episode 224 - Tintoretto's "Finding of the Body of St. Mark" (Brera Gallery, Milan) May 03, 2023

Show notes

Another of the great canvases for the Scuola Grande of San Marco dramatically depicts the episode where the body of the evangelist was discovered. The dark painting is dominated by theatrical chiaroscuro and showcases unconventional characters and gestures.

Episode 223 - Tintoretto's "Stealing of the Body of St. Mark" (Accademia Gallery, Venice) Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

Fourteen years after exploding onto the art scene in Venice, Tintoretto produced another dramatic work for the Scuola Grande of San Marco. The intense painting depicts the legendary story of two Venetian merchants stealing the body of St. Mark away from Alexandria in the 9th century.

Episode 222 - Tintoretto's "Miracle of the Slave" (Accademia Gallery, Venice) Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

The Venetian painter Tintoretto exploded onto the art scene in his native city with this large canvas depicting St. Mark rescuing one of his devotees from a horrific death. With its dramatic proscenium characterized by strong foreshortening and dramatic spotlighting, as well as a surprising and daring representation of St. Mark, Tintoretto introduced a style of painting that Venice – or the world – had never seen.

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