TIZIANO Vecellio
(b. 1490, Pieve di Cadore, d. 1576, Venezia)

Pope Alexander VI Presenting Jacopo Pesaro to St Peter

1506-11
Oil on canvas, 146 x 184 cm
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

This painting was painted to celebrate the defeat of the Turks at Santa Maura on 30 August 1502: the victorious papal fleet was led by Jacopo Pesaro while his cousin Benedetto commanded the allied Venetian fleet.

Due to its awkward passages, this used to be considered one of Titian's very earliest paintings and dated c. 1506. However, the painting has notable stylistic similarities with the altarpiece in the Santa Maria della Salute (St Mark Enthroned with Saints) which is dated c. 1510, thus the Antwerp painting should be given a later dating around 1510.




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