The Triumph of Love

Titian (circa 1485/90 - 1576)

Ashmolean Museum

1540s

The Triumph of Love brings an entirely new kind of Venetian painting into the Ashmolean collection, a secular allegorical theme by Venice's greatest painter, and a new type of domestic picture, a cover for a portrait. The rondel depicts Cupid trampling a lion and represents love conquering bestiality. It would seem that the work originally functioned as a cover for a portrait by Titian. In spite of the importance of the Ashmolean's Italian Renaissance collection, there are surprisingly few secular paintings on mythological or allegorical themes. This work is a valuable addition to the collection and complements the other Titian portrait acquired with Art Fund help in 2000. This work was acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

• Medium: oil on canvas
• Dimensions: diameter: 88.3cm
• Art Fund Grant: £180000 ( Total: £430,143; Tax Remission)
• ArtFunded in: 2008
• Vendor: Christie's

Provenance

Gabriele Vendramin; by descent; Cristofano Orsetti; by descent; Bortolo (Bartolomeo) Bernard; by descent; John Udney; by descent; Christie's 1804; John Robert Udney; Christie's 1829; Major C. Currie; Christie's 1874; Duncan, i.e. William Graham; Christie's 1886; Agnew's; Agnes Graham, Lady Jekyll; by descent to David and Cecilia McKenna.

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