“Love is the force that leaves you colorless,” writes the Roman poet Ovid in his magnum opus, Metamorphoses. For a commission of 1551, Titian, inspired by stories from Ovid, began what he would refer to as his “poesie” paintings: seven large-scale works exploring classical myths of love, temptation, and punishment. For an exhibition at the National Gallery, scheduled to run until June 14, 2020, six of these were brought together for the first time in over three centuries. In this online walk-through, the pieces are analyzed step-by-step, and their mysteries revealed. —J.V.
Travels to: The Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh (Dates to be announced).
