Venus of Urbino was painted by?

• A. Botticelli
• B. Da Vinci
• C. Titian
• D. Giotto

Answer: (C)

Titian, a leading figure of the Venetian school, painted this work in the 1530s. The piece showcases his mastery of oil on canvas, using lush color and soft glazing to model the reclining figure, the textures of skin and fabric, and the overall luminous surface. The domestic setting with a small dog at the sitter’s feet and a servant in the background reflects Titian’s interest in combining ideal beauty with everyday life, a hallmark of his mature style. The painting’s title, Venus of Urbino, links it to Urbino and its patronage, and it’s now housed in the Uffizi. Botticelli’s famous Venus scene (The Birth of Venus) is a mythological standing figure, Leonardo’s iconic works include the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, and Giotto represents an earlier, pre-Renaissance style known for fresco cycles. Because of the reclining pose, the sensuous Venetian colorism, and the specific subject matter, Titian is the best fit.