The Gypsy Madonna

Painted by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (Pieve di Cadore c.1488/90 - Venice 1570) Now in the collections of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.

This very early work of Titian has been dated to around 1510. Whilst it was definitely in the collection of the Archduke Leopold Wilhelm catalogued in 1659, (235), its appearance in the Hamilton's inventories of c.1638 (M4/20) and c.1643 (M4/21) is more difficult to establish. However, by a process of elimination it is possible to suggest that "Our Ladie with our Lord in her armes pal[mes] 4 & 3 Titian....200" on the list of paintings for sale from the Bartolommeo della Nave collection (M4/10) might be the Madonna known as the Gypsy Madonna. This is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, appears to be approximately the right size and is the only work by Titian with this title.

The composition of the picture is strongly influenced by the work of his master Giovanni Bellini - for example the Madonna and Child, signed and dated 1509 and now in The Detroit Institue of Art. However the Gypsy Madonna shows Titian's developing strength in modelling figures using colour and its graduations rather than line to create a dreamlike atmosphere in the fore and background and in the landscape behind. The modelling and volume are achieved by sensuous and subtle gradation of colour anticipating his interest in the pastoral themes of Giorgione