Pope Paul III with his Grandsons

Titian's painting Pope Paul III with his Grandsons was commissioned by the pope himself who asked Titian personally for a portrait due to his immense fame.[1]  In this picture Pope Paul III is pictured with his two sons Cardinal Alessandro Fernese and Ottavio Fernese.  Pope's did not traditionally and were not supposed to have  families, but after the fall of the Roman Empire some Pope's were corrupt and sacrilegious.  Later in his life, Pope Paul III was charged with nepotism to punish him for propelling his family members' careers forward.[2]  The painting was not finished because of the clear depiction of the ongoing feud in the family.  [3]

Titian's portrait of the Pope and his grandsons is filled with rich tones of red and maroon along with dark brown, black and skin toned tan accented with white and silver.  Seated in the focal point of the painting is Pope Paul III dressed in a white fur and silk robe with a velvet vestment.  He is also wearing a traditional pope's cap.  His left hand is gripping the arm of the chair symbolizing his power and strength.  His head is turned slightly to the right to address his one grandson Ottavio.  Ottavio is bowing slightly next to the pope in reverence and as a polite gesture.  He is wearing a black shirt with a brown sash that holsters a knife.  His high white socks accent the ouline of his figure from the wooden backdrop.  The pope's other grandson stands slightly behind the left side of the pope's chair.  He is adorned in red cardinal vestments looking directly at the viewer, but with his body positioned as if he is ready to assume the throne.  In the background of the painting faint outlines of detailed wood can be seen, but since the painting is not finished the details are not fully fleshed out.  There is a red banner that flows very naturally, showcasing Titian's skill in Renaissance art.

[1] Phillips-Court, Kristin. “Emblematic Narrative in Caro's Gli Straccioni (with an Eye to Titian's Paul III).,” 2004. 
[2] Murphy, Francis Xaiver. “The Council of Trent.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., August 20, 2020. 
[3]Wethey, Harold E. “Titian.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., August 23, 2020.

Titian

Murphy, Francis Xaiver. “The Council of Trent.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., August 20, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-III/The-Council-of-Trent.

Phillips-Court, Kristin. “Emblematic Narrative in Caro's Gli Straccioni (with an Eye to Titian's Paul III).,” 2004. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A120702683/AONE?u=duke_perkins&sid=AONE&xid=28639a9d.

Titian. “Pope Paul III with His Grandsons.” ARTSTOR. JSTOR, 2020. Museo e gallerie nazionali di Capodimonte. Naples, Italy. https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/ARTSTOR_103_41822000645323.

Wethey, Harold E. “Titian.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., August 23, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Titian.

Data from: University of California, San Diego
Pope Paul III

1545-1546

Darien Sansosti

Titian, ca. 1488-1576. 1545-46. Pope Paul III with his Grandsons. Place: Museo e gallerie nazionali di Capodimonte. https://library.artstor.org/asset/ARTSTOR_103_41822000645323.

200 x 174 cm

Oil painting on canvas

Museo e gallerie nazionali di Capodimonte
Naples, Italy