Giorgione (1477-1511) was a celebrated Italian painter, the pioneer
of the High Renaissance in Venice, when the arts threw off the
constraining religious and didactic garments, and took up the cloak of
poetic joy of living. Giorgione was born at Castelfranco, the son of
poor parents. Of his life too little is known, but we are told that he
was beautiful, gracious and learned. We do know, however, that in
breaking the bonds of precedent that held most of the painters of his
day he prepared the way for the Venetian master, Titian. Already in 1500
the freedom and originality of his work had won him many important
commissions. Correctness of line and wondrous subtlety in the handling
of color and light and shade mark all of the extant works ascribed to
him.
The best judges do not agree upon the genuineness of some of
the canvasses supposed to have been painted by Giorgione. There is
documentary evidence to prove the genuineness of his altar piece at
Castelfranco entitled
Madonna Enthroned Between Saints Liberale and
Francis; his
Gypsy and Soldier, now at Venice; and
Evander Showing
Aeneas the Site of Rome, now at Vienna. And other works rightly credited
to him are
The Holy Family,
Christ Bearing the Cross,
Sleeping Venus,
Jacob Meeting Rachel,
Apollo and Daphne,
Finding of Moses and
The Sea
Storm.
