Venus of Urbino
Dublin Core
Title
Venus of Urbino
Description
Venus of Urbino, created by Titian, shows a nude woman lounging on a bed in the foregound of the painting. Besides this figure, there are several other symbolic elements with significance [1]. One of these is the bouquet of roses she holds in her hand, which symbolize love. The white sheets she lays on symbolize purity, and the red bed represents love. The little dog that is curled up by her feet is a representation of fidelity [2]. These symbols are what lead many scholars to believe that this woman is Venus, goddess of love, and not another woman, though this is continually disputed.
I would side with the scholars who believe this is a depiction of Venus, given both the symbolism and history of the work. Titian is known for many of his paintings depicting mythological scenes, and this particular painting bears strong resemblance to Giorgone's Sleeping Venus in its composition, which was actually finished by Titian [1]. There is also debate among scholars as to whether Titian's interpretation highlights the sensuality of the figure or her virtue and fidelity, given the figures she appears with.
What is particularly striking about this work is the gaze of the main female figure, looking directly towards the viewer. Her body is twisted away from her gaze, but this gaze increases the sensuality of the figure in comparison with Giorgone's Sleeping Venus. She has many features that would have been considered the ideal of feminine beauty, such as her curled blonde hair and rosy cheeks. These features of the work, in combination with the symbolism and history discussed earlier, are what lead me to believe that this is a representation of Venus, and not simply a beautiful woman that Titian wanted to paint.
[1] Grabski, Józef. ""Victoria Amoris": Titian's "Venus of Urbino." A Commemorative Allegory of Marital Love." Artibus Et Historiae 20, no. 40 (1999): 9-33. Accessed November 3, 2020. doi:10.2307/1483663.
[2] “Venus of Urbino, 1538 by Titian.” Titian, Paintings, Quotes, and Biography, 2011. https://www.titian.org/venus-of-urbino.jsp.
I would side with the scholars who believe this is a depiction of Venus, given both the symbolism and history of the work. Titian is known for many of his paintings depicting mythological scenes, and this particular painting bears strong resemblance to Giorgone's Sleeping Venus in its composition, which was actually finished by Titian [1]. There is also debate among scholars as to whether Titian's interpretation highlights the sensuality of the figure or her virtue and fidelity, given the figures she appears with.
What is particularly striking about this work is the gaze of the main female figure, looking directly towards the viewer. Her body is twisted away from her gaze, but this gaze increases the sensuality of the figure in comparison with Giorgone's Sleeping Venus. She has many features that would have been considered the ideal of feminine beauty, such as her curled blonde hair and rosy cheeks. These features of the work, in combination with the symbolism and history discussed earlier, are what lead me to believe that this is a representation of Venus, and not simply a beautiful woman that Titian wanted to paint.
[1] Grabski, Józef. ""Victoria Amoris": Titian's "Venus of Urbino." A Commemorative Allegory of Marital Love." Artibus Et Historiae 20, no. 40 (1999): 9-33. Accessed November 3, 2020. doi:10.2307/1483663.
[2] “Venus of Urbino, 1538 by Titian.” Titian, Paintings, Quotes, and Biography, 2011. https://www.titian.org/venus-of-urbino.jsp.
Creator
Titian
Source
Titian. 1538. Venus of Urbino. painting. Place: Galleria degli Uffizi. https://library-artstor-org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/asset/SCALA_ARCHIVES_1031314662.
Publisher
Titian. 1538. Venus of Urbino. painting. Place: Galleria degli Uffizi. https://library-artstor-org.proxy.lib.duke.edu/asset/SCALA_ARCHIVES_1031314662.
Date
1538
Contributor
Jacey Curd
Rights
(c) 2006, SCALA, Florence / ART RESOURCE, N.Y.
Format
Oil on Canvas, 119 x 165 cm
Type
Painting, oil on canvas
Coverage
Gallerina degli Uffizi, Tuscany, Italy
Citation
Titian, “Venus of Urbino,” ARTHIST 89S - Visual Culture of Venice - Fall 2020, accessed October 22, 2026, https://venice.dahvc.org/fall-2020/items/show/152.