Pope Paul III and His Grandsons Alessandro and Ottavio Farnese

The story

“Pope Paul III and His Grandsons Alessandro and Ottavio Farnese” was painted in 1546 in Rome. Titian was invited by the Farnese family and painted the old pope with his two grandsons.

In “Pope Paul III and His Grandsons Alessandro and Ottavio Farnese” the old pope sits hunched in an armchair, dressed in red. Behind him stands Cardinal Alessandro. On the right the young Ottavio bows deeply, as if with excessive zeal. Red tones fill the whole picture.

Many see tension in the painting. The pope turns to the young Ottavio with a distrustful look. Titian did not finish the painting. Perhaps the scene was too honest for the patrons.

In Rome Titian met Michelangelo. It is said that he praised Titian's colours. A similar bold portrait of a ruler is Portrait of Charles V with a Dog.

Today “Pope Paul III and His Grandsons Alessandro and Ottavio Farnese” is in the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples. It is one of the most powerful group portraits in history.