The calamities of the
present times, in which every one is suffering from the continuance
of war, force me to this step, and oblige me at the same time to
ask to be favoured with some kind proof of your Majesty's grace, as
well as with some assistance from Spain or elsewhere, since I have
not been able for years past to obtain any payment either from the
Naples grant, or from my ordinary pension. The state of my affairs
is indeed such that I do not know how to live in this my old age,
devoted as it entirely is to the service of your Catholic Majesty,
and to no other. Not having for eighteen years past received a
_quattrino_ for the paintings which I delivered from time to time,
and of which I forward a list by this opportunity to the secretary
Perez, I feel assured that your Majesty's infinite clemency will
cause a careful consideration to be made of the services of an old
servant of the age of ninety-five, by extending to him some
evidence of munificence and liberality. Sending two prints of the
design of the Beato Lorenzo, and most humbly recommending myself,
"I am Your Catholic Majesty's
"most devoted, humble servant,
"TITIANO VECELLIO.
"From Venice, the 1st of August, 1571."
Here, then, is Titian himself, in the year 1571, declaring that he is
ninety-five years of age--in other words, dating his birth back to
1476--that is, some thirteen years earlier than Dolce and Vasari imply
was the case.
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