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Uncovering the Story of Danger and Survival Behind Titian’s Portrait of Ambassador

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Looking at Renaissance portraits can be fun even if you don’t know the sitter’s name or story. Even more so, if you manage to find out who’s depicted and why the artist included all the fascinating details that make pre-19 th century portraits so enigmatic . Portrait of the Ambassador Gabriel de Luetz d'Aramon. 1541-42. Titian Titian’s portrait of the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Gabriel de Luetz d'Aramon (or d’Aramont), is a perfect example of the masterly portraiture technique that earned Titian commissions from Europe’s nobility and kings. The date of the portrait is unclear – some scholars favor an early date of 1541-1542, while others (including me) believe it was painted in 1546, after he’d been appointed ambassador to the Turkish sultan. So, what’s the story of this nobleman who had his portrait painted by "the king of painters and the painter of kings", as Titian was dubbed during his lifetime? A Dangerous Assignment In this remarkable portrai...
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  “The more materialistic science becomes, the more angels shall I paint: their wings are my protest in favour of the immortality of the soul.” – Sir Edward Burne-Jones   From Icons to Christmas Cards: Angels in Art The jewel-hued angels of the Pre-Raphaelite artist Burne-Jones often grace Christmas cards and ornaments, but did you know that their regal appearance goes back to the way angels were depicted before the onset of Renaissance? Before angels turned into chubby children, like those at the foot of Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, they were portrayed as adults in shining robes, as described in the Bible.  Have you ever wondered why there are so many baby angels in old European art? If you’re confused by the number of tiny, winged infants in art history, this article will clarify some of the misperceptions about angels in paintings.   Brief History of Angels in Art Religious Baroque art abounds in angels, floating on clouds. Often, they look like smal...
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