Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino
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| - | The '''''Venus of Urbino''''' (1538) is an [[oil painting]] by the Italian master [[Titian]]. It depicts a [[nude woman|nude]] [[young woman]], identified with the goddess [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]], reclining on a couch or bed in the sumptuous surroundings of a [[Renaissance]] palace. In his 1880 [[Travel literature|travelogue]] ''[[A Tramp Abroad]]'', [[Mark Twain]] called the ''Venus of Urbino'' "the foulest, the vilest, the obscenest picture the world possesses". He proposed that "it was painted for a [[bagnio]] and it was probably refused because it was a trifle too strong', adding humorously that "in truth, it is a trifle too strong for any place but a [[public art gallery]]". ''Venus of Urbino'' inspired the later painting ''[[Olympia (painting)|Olympia]]'' by [[Édouard Manet]], in which the figure of Venus was replaced with a prostitute. | ||
| - | The pose is based on Giorgione's ''[[Sleeping Venus (Giorgione)|Sleeping Venus]]'' (c. 1510), which also is displayed below, but Titian uses more sensuality in comparison to Giorgione's sublime remoteness. | + | '''Guidobaldo II [[della Rovere]]''' (April 2, 1514 – September 28, 1574) was an [[Italy|Italian]] [[condottiero]], who was [[Duke of Urbino]] from 1539 until his death. |
| - | Devoid as it is of any classical or allegorical [[trapping]]s ('Venus' displays none of the attributes of the goddess she is supposed to represent), the painting is unapologetically sexy. | + | [[Image:Tizian 102.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Giulia da Varno aka [[Venus of Urbino]] painted by Titian after a commission by Duke Guidobaldo as a wedding gift for Giulia]] |
| + | == Biography == | ||
| - | The frankness of Venus' expression is often noted; she stares straight at the viewer, unconcerned with her nudity. In her right hand she holds a posy of flowers whilst her left covers her pubic area, provocatively placed in the centre of the composition. In the near background a dog, symbolising fidelity, is asleep. | + | He was the son of [[Francesco Maria I della Rovere]] and [[Eleonora Gonzaga]]. He married Giulia [[da Varano]], daughter of the lord of [[Camerino]]. At the assassination of his father, Guidobaldo became duke of [[Urbino]] in 1539. |
| - | The painting was commissioned by [[Guidobaldo II della Rovere]], the Duke of [[Urbino]]. It would originally have decorated a ''[[cassone]]'', a chest traditionally given in [[Italy]] as a wedding present. The maids in the background are shown rummaging through a similar chest, apparently in search of the Venus's clothes. Curiously, given its overtly erotic content, the painting was intended as an instructive 'model' for Giulia Varano, the Duke's extremely young bride. The argument for the painting's didacticism was made by the late art historian [[Rona Goffen]] in 1997's “[[Sex, Space, and Social History in Titian’s Venus of Urbino]]." | + | In 1546 he received a ''condotta'' as military leader (''Governatore'') by the [[Republic of Venice]], for which his father had been a valiant commander during the [[Italian Wars]]. After the death of Giulia da Varano (1547), he re-married to Vittoria [[Farnese]] in 1548-the daughter of [[Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma]] and Girolama Orsini, daughter of [[Luigi Orsini]] and wife and first cousin Giulia Conti. Later he was made Papal governor of [[Fano]], receiving also the title of ''[[Captain General of the Church|capitano generale]]'' (commander-in-chief) of the [[Papal States]], as well as that of Prefect of [[Rome]]. |
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| + | In 1559 he was hired by the [[King of Spain]], helping [[Bernardo Sanseverino]] (who had married one of Guidobaldo's daughters) in the war against the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] Turks. | ||
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| + | On [[January 1]] [[1573]] a revolt rose against Guidobaldo in Urbino, due to the excessive tax burden that he was exerting over his state. He reacted by bloodily suppressing the riot. | ||
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| + | After falling ill during a voyage to [[Ferrara]] and [[Pesaro]], he died in the latter town in 1574. His son [[Francesco Maria II della Rovere|Francesco Maria II]] succeeded him as Duke of Urbino. His additional children were: | ||
| + | * Isabelle,wife of Bernardo Sanseverino, | ||
| + | * Lavinia, wife of marquis de [[Vasto]]. | ||
| - | It hangs in the [[Galleria degli Uffizi]] in [[Florence]]. | ||
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Guidobaldo II della Rovere (April 2, 1514 – September 28, 1574) was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1539 until his death.
Biography
He was the son of Francesco Maria I della Rovere and Eleonora Gonzaga. He married Giulia da Varano, daughter of the lord of Camerino. At the assassination of his father, Guidobaldo became duke of Urbino in 1539.
In 1546 he received a condotta as military leader (Governatore) by the Republic of Venice, for which his father had been a valiant commander during the Italian Wars. After the death of Giulia da Varano (1547), he re-married to Vittoria Farnese in 1548-the daughter of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma and Girolama Orsini, daughter of Luigi Orsini and wife and first cousin Giulia Conti. Later he was made Papal governor of Fano, receiving also the title of capitano generale (commander-in-chief) of the Papal States, as well as that of Prefect of Rome.
In 1559 he was hired by the King of Spain, helping Bernardo Sanseverino (who had married one of Guidobaldo's daughters) in the war against the Ottoman Turks.
On January 1 1573 a revolt rose against Guidobaldo in Urbino, due to the excessive tax burden that he was exerting over his state. He reacted by bloodily suppressing the riot.
After falling ill during a voyage to Ferrara and Pesaro, he died in the latter town in 1574. His son Francesco Maria II succeeded him as Duke of Urbino. His additional children were:
- Isabelle,wife of Bernardo Sanseverino,
- Lavinia, wife of marquis de Vasto.
