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Giorgione is the recognized name of the Venetian painter Giorgio Barbarelli da Castelfranco. As a musician and a poet, his work is known for its poetic nature with warm atmospheres which convey strong sense of moods. Much of his life’s work was executed as frescoes which unfortunately have not survived. Very little of his documented life and artwork survives today, with many of the paintings previously credited to him having been disproved and only six legitimate paintings from which to gather what the man was all about. Therefore the artist known as Giorgione remains to this day very much a mystery.

Much of what we know about Giorgione comes from the famous Italian biographer Giorgio Vasari, who included the Venetian artist. He grew up in a small town outside Venice, Castelfranco, with his name sometimes appearing as Zorzon, or “Big George.” He moved into the city of Venice at a young age and apprenticed under the painter Giovanni Bellini, and later learned much of the ideas of the “outsider” artists Albrect Dürer and Leonardo. He gained quick fame and produced all of his famous works in the first decade of the sixteenth century. His big ticket came when he was commissioned for an altarpiece in his home town of Castelfranco for the cathedral Veneto, at which he portrayed a serene countryside with a spacious view bathed in natural light. Soon after he established a successful workshop and received commissions for frescoes all around Venice. This was what would have been the start of a prolific career at the rate he was going, but unfortunately the plague would cut his life short and he died at the age of 33.

Giorgione’s work was varied in subjects ranging from portraits and religious subjects set in huge landscapes, to philosophical works with themes of moral allegories, and the three ages of man. Some paintings include erotic nude females reclining, or other busts of women, concerts, and subjects from mythology. Some seemingly secular paintings could have religious references such as the “Three Philosophers” (seen above). This unique composition shows philosophers of different ages who appear to be traveling but have stopped on the edge of the woods. The youngest sits and ponders, oblivious to the others and his surroundings. While the other two are having a conversation, the young one sits and looks out into the countryside, and ponders as if expecting an epiphany. It has been suggested this is a reference to the Three Magi on their way to see the birth of Jesus, and can be interpreted as the travel in one’s life through different stages.

Another work which has fascinated and perplexed students of the art of the era is the Tempest. It has been interpreted by scholars with differing opinions and its meanings and symbolism still remains enigmatic. Even the name The Tempest is not known for sure to be the original title, but given later based on the composition. It shows a dark landscape with a city in the background and a bolt of lightening striking above. Seated on the right of the canvas is a woman feeding a child gazing out at the viewer. Gazing at her is a man dressed in red holding a staff, on the far left of the painting. The prevailing theory on the picture is that is represents Adam and Eve soon after the Expulsion. The bolt of lightning can possibly the sword of the Archangel. Giorgione was known to be a remarkable landscapist and often included the beauty and wonder of nature in his works. He is one of the first artists to assign such a leading role to the wonder of the natural world.