e and Doge and Prince. He was overwhelmed with commissions, liberally compensated, pensioned and enjoying to the utmost his good fortune. He lived in great state, dressed splendidly and, although not very learned, he was keen of perception, and life-long familiarity with courts had taught him the elegancies of such a life. We are told that he was very courteous and his manners were those of a Prince. He was industrious to the greatest degree. He was devoted to his three children ; his eldest son Pomponio was a bitter disappointment. He led a gay and dissipated life and brought much sorrow to the family. Orazio worked with his father in the studio, and acted as his agent.
His daughter Lavinia was her father’s favorite, and it is her face we see in many of his pictures. “At Cadore Titian was born. At Cadore he lived until he was ten years old. To Cadore he returned year after year for love of kindred and mountains. There, after the death of his wife in 1530, he took refuge with his three motherless children. Then in 1560 he came again, old but not bent, and bearing the titles of Count of the Empire and Knight of the Golden Spur. There also he intended to go in 1576, when the plague was sweeping Venice; but brave and strong to the last, he delayed until the edict was passed forbidding any one to leave the city. So in Venice he died, ninety-nine years old, alone and forsaken, and the pestilence which took his life thwarted his last wishes, for none dared carry his body to Cadore as be had willed.” It was doubtless thrown into a trench with thousands of others.
( Originally Published 1912 )
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