Titian's Venus of Urbino Returns to Its Original Home After Five Centuries
From September 6 to December 18, Titian's 'Venus of Urbino' will be exhibited at the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino, courtesy of the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. This event marks the painting's first return since it was commissioned nearly 500 years ago. Created in 1538 for Guidobaldo II Della Rovere, it will be showcased alongside other Renaissance masterpieces. The loan was revealed by Eike Schmidt and Peter Aufreiter. Previously, in 1548, Giorgio Vasari admired the artwork, which has since been relocated multiple times before becoming part of the Uffizi collection in 1736. Aufreiter described the loan as 'an extraordinary and sensational example' of collaboration, part of the 'Franceschini reform' aimed at promoting cultural heritage.
Key facts
- Titian's 'Venus of Urbino' returns to Palazzo Ducale in Urbino for the first time since its commission.
- The painting was commissioned by Guidobaldo II Della Rovere in 1538.
- The loan runs from September 6 to December 18.
- Eike Schmidt (Uffizi) and Peter Aufreiter (Galleria Nazionale delle Marche) announced the loan.
- The painting will be displayed alongside works by Piero della Francesca, the Ideal City, and the studiolo of Federico da Montefeltro.
- The painting was previously exhibited at Museo del Prado, Palais des Beaux-Arts, National Gallery of Western Art Tokyo, and Palazzo Ducale Venice.
- The loan is part of the Franceschini reform of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
- Vittoria della Rovere brought the painting to Florence in 1637.
Entities
Artists
- Titian
- Piero della Francesca
- Giorgio Vasari
- Federico da Montefeltro
Institutions
- Gallerie degli Uffizi
- Palazzo Ducale di Urbino
- Galleria Nazionale delle Marche
- Polo Museale delle Marche
- Museo del Prado
- Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles
- National Gallery of Western Art Tokyo
- Palazzo Ducale di Venezia
- Ministero dei Beni Culturali
Locations
- Urbino
- Florence
- Pesaro
- Madrid
- Brussels
- Tokyo
- Venice
- Italy
- Spain
- Belgium
- Japan