Head master of the Venetian School, Tiziano Vecellio di Gregorio was born in Pieve di Cadore and soon he went to Venice to work with Giorgione at Giovanni Bellini's workshop.
 
The early death of Giorgione makes Tiziano the only one in leading Venetian painting to its culmination.
 
He was painter of the Serenisima Republic and painter of emperor Charles V and his son Philip II of Spain. He went on living in Venice though he travelled to Germany to paint them. He painted the Pope Paulo III in Rome too.
 
Tiziano's work is very complex, with mural decorations, portraits, religious and mythological themes (called poetries because of the lyrical focus on sensual scenes). Not many masters have reached so harmonic balance in shapes, light and colour. His influence was really important not only in Venice but in every country painters for a long time.