Tiziano – Flora Uffizi

Description of Titian Vechellio’s painting Flora

There has long been controversy surrounding Titian’s painting Flora, by the outstanding Venetian artist of the High or, in other words, the Late Renaissance. Initially the authorship of this masterpiece was attributed to another famous artist of the time, but then the researchers agreed that the painting is still painted by Titian. But the identity of the heroine and has remained for many a mystery. We only know that the picture depicts a real-life Venetian.

This blooming young woman extraordinary, even a few idealized beauty. She has long golden hair, a wave falling on her feminine shoulders, and pale soft skin. Her head is tilted, her beautiful face with a healthy blush is thoughtful, the dreamy look of her dark velvet eyes is directed to the side, and a certain half-smile frozen on her lips. Her whole appearance suggests that the beauty is absorbed in her own thoughts.

And at the same time her face seemed to glow with some kind of mysterious fire from within. She supports her pale pink clothes falling from one shoulder with her plump left hand. With her right hand the lady seems to be holding out her bouquet of spring flowers to us. That’s why the painting is called "Flora" - the name of the ancient Roman goddess of spring and flowers.

Looking at the young beauty we can only guess who she was in fact. Perhaps she was someone’s bride, if we consider her shirt, which resembled a wedding garment. Such tunics were worn by brides at the time as a symbol of purity and chastity. Art historians also point to the way in which the fingers on the hand of the beauty are folded, saying that this is a sign that she is about to part with her innocence. Some believe, on the contrary, that the painting depicts a venal woman, a courtesan.

Yet one cannot deny the resemblance of the heroine to the Roman goddess of spring. Maybe the artist painted her imagining in his head antique motifs, and therefore the image of a young woman turned out so lofty and as if divorced from reality. But whoever this beautiful lady is, one thing is clear - her attractive, sensual appearance has become a true embodiment of femininity, which can leave few people indifferent.