Titian: Sacred and Profane Love

Titian: Sacred and Profane Love, 1513-14

• Probably commissioned by Niccolo Aurelio celebrating the wedding to Laura Bagarotto in 1514. 
• Niccolo is the vice Chancelor of the Venetian Republic (his coat of arms appears on the fountain relief) 
• Two woman look like sisters with almost identical complexions, hair color, similar red and white garments; They both are seated on a fountain resembling a sarcophagus. 
• The title of Sacred and Profane Love was given later on and is discredited as a good title by modern historians
• Triangles, simple composition, harmonious
• Warm feel, rich color characteristic of Titian’s oil glazing techniques

Bride (earthly venus):

• Could be the bride Laura or an idealized bride
• Clothed in white (silvery-bluish tint) Locked belt girdle
• Gloved, one hand on a closed jar, one hand playing with a cut rose
• Fortified hill, huntsman returning
• Country-side with two rabbits: Symbolizing love
• Gazing out past the viewer 
• Crowned with the myrtle; sacred to Venus and Laura (laurel plant)
• Closed jar of jewels symbolic of "fleeting happiness on earth" 

Venus (celestial):

• Probably represents the Venus, her celestial nature
• Nude with small white scarf, and rose colored cloak
• Left hand holding up an urn that has a flame in it (burning flame is symbolic of of divine love)
• Open landscape, with a lake (spacious = a place to go beyond earth) 
• Huntsman catching a rabbit
• Shepherds tending a flock
• Church steeple on the horizon (heavenly)
• Symbolic of neoplatonist view of divine love and “eternal happiness in heaven”

Fountain imagery:

• The Fountain with a lid symbolic of the human soul trapped in material world; (Plato's cave)
• Cupid Stirring the water- (force of love, binding or harmonizing the area between the two loves
• A golden bowl half filled with clear water is on the edge
• The Fountain depicts scenes of earthly passion/violence (chaotic love)
• A man attempting rape 
• Unbridled horse
• A man being beaten 
• A guy and a girl by a tree (adam and eve?)

Interpretations:

• Runs deeper than just sacred love vs profane love
• Neoplatonic exaltation of both earthly and heavenly love; (double nature of Venus)
• Two powers of the soul: (both honorable and praiseworthy) 
• The power to contemplate beauty
• The power to propagate (spread or promote) beauty

*Meant to inspire the viewer to contemplate the mystery of love, beauty, and marriage 

• The hierarchal progression from chaotic love to divine transcendent love