This painting of TIZIANO, also known as 'An allegory of marriage, in honour of Alfonso d'Avalos, marchese del Vasto' has a complicated provenance and was seemingly very popular, given the many known repetitions (drawings, copies, engravings). It was in the beginning of the 17th century in the collection of Charles I, where it was copied several times. It was finally sold to Louis XIV and entered the Musée du Louvre in 1785.

1. TIZIANO's 'Allegory of marriage'
The original of 1533 and its repetitions till the 19th century
Story by: K. Bender

2. Vecellio, TIZIANO: Allégorie conjugale, dit à tort Alphonse d'Avalos
1533
Painting by Tiziano Vecellio (c1488 Pievi di Cadore-1575 Venezia) dated ca. 1533, oil on canvas, 121 x 107 cm, since 1785
in the Louvre in Paris, inventory n°754.
The painting has long been known as depicting Alfonso d'Avalos, marquis del Vasto, military commander in Italy of the
Emperor Charles V, with his wife Marie d'Aragon. It is now simply entitled an allegory of marriage, where 'Mars (in
armour), Venus with Cupid and his arrows, and two other females, maybe representing Hymen and Fortuna' are depicted.
A preparatory drawing, 100 x 101 cm, with some differences, is also owned by the Musée du Louvre, inventory n°754 bis.
Musée du Louvre, Paris.
More about this painting and its provenance in 'Iconography in Art History'

3. Venetian School: Allégorie d'Alfonso d'Avalos, marquis del Vasto
1576
Oil on canvas, 129 x 100 cm in Montauban, Musée Ingres, inventory MI.843.3.4 Date of acquisition 1843.

4. Flemish School: Allégorie présumée en l'honneur d'Alphonse
d'Avalos, marquis del Guasto
1600 - 1699
A drawing, 17,5 x 19,5 cm, also attributed to the School of RUBENS.
Musée du Louvre, INV 20397, Recto

5. Venetian School: Allégorie conjugale
1600 - 1699
A drawing, 17th century, 23,8 x 26,4 cm, which was sold in Paris, 18-28 January 1779 as 'Titien / Ecole Venitienne'.
Since 1796-1797 in Musée du Louvre, INV 21879, recto

6. OLIVER, Peter: The d?Avalos allegory
1629
A miniature by Peter OLIVER (c1594-1647), made for Charles I in 1629 who had bought TIZIANO's painting in Spain.
Probably lost, but known through a copy by David DES GRANGES made in 1640.
Ref. Millar, O (1960): 'Abraham van der Doort's catalogue of the collection of Charles I.' The Walpole Society Vol. 37, 1958-
60, p.104, n°10.

7. DES GRANGES, David: The d'Avalos allegory
1640
Watercolour and bodycolour on vellum by David DES GRANGES (1611?1671 or'72), made in 1640, after Peter OLIVER?s
miniature.
Richmond, Ham House
Public Catalogue Foundation Vol. National Trust V - South

8. Anonymous : An allegory of marriage, in honour of Alfonso d'Avalos,
marchese del Vasto
1650
Dated 17th century, entitled 'An allegory of marriage, in honour of Alfonso d'Avalos, marchese del Vasto' oil on canvas, 122
x 92 cm, in Petworth House Petworth, West Sussex, England, Accession number: 485086
Collection: National Trust, on loan from the Egremont Private Collection

9. NATALIS, Michel: Vénus et Mars, portrait d'Alfonso de Avalos,
marquis de Guast
1650 - 1660
Engraving, 48,5 x 38 cm, dated 1650--60, by Michel NATALIS (c1612 Liège-1690).
Liège, Collections artistiques de l'Université de Liège
Also in British Museum, Registration number: 1917,1208.537, entitled: 'Allegory in honour of Alfonso d'Avalos', dated 1626-
1668, 32 x 27.3 cm.
Entitled: 'The Marquis del Guasto, with his Mistress represented as Venus ; after Titian' in Bryan's Dictionary of painters and
engravers. Vol.4, p.6. Williamson G C (1903). Bell & Sons, London.

10. Anonymous: The allegory of Alfonso D'Avalos
1650
Dated 1610-90, entitled 'The allegory of Alfonso D'Avalos' oil on canvas, 103.9 x 107.6 cm. First recorded in the Royal
Collection during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Royal Collection, RCIN 402910.

11. MATTIOLI, Ludovico : Allegoria di Alfonso d'Avalos
1700
Ca 1700, engraving, 21,2 x 20,9 cm by Ludovico MATTIOLI (1662 Crevalcore-1747 Bologna).
Venezia, Museo Correr, inventory D49-8
Ref. Chiari M (1982) 'Incisioni da Tiziano - Catalogo del fondo grafico a stampa del Museo Correr', Venezia, p.160, nr.186.

12. FILHOL, Antoine-Michel : Portrait d'Alphonse d'Avalos et de sa
maitresse
1814
Illustration by Antoine-Michel FILHOL (1759 Paris-1812) in 'Cours historique et élémentaire de peinture, ou Galerie
complette du Museum central de France. Tome 10 / , par une Société d'amateurs et d'artistes' Pl III (711) livraison 115.
Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Gallica

13. MILLER, Alfred Jacob : Allegory of Alfonso d'Avalos, Marchese del
Vasto
1833
ca.1833, oil on canvas, 114.2 x 106.7 cm, by the American artist Alfred Jacob MILLER (1810-1874), most likely completed
while Miller was a student in Paris.
Baltimore, Walters Art Museum, inventory 37.2594

14. Anonymous: Portrait d'Alphonse d'Avalos Marquis del Vasto et de sa
maîtresse
1835
Oil on canvas, 64.5 x 53.5 cm. Date of acquisition: 1835.
No image available.
Troyes : Musée d'art d'archéologie et de sciences naturelles. Numéro d'inventaire 835.37

15. Anonymous: Allegory of marriage (Allegory of Alfonso d'Avalos)
1850
An eighteenth-century copy, oil on canvas, 107.5 by 104.5 cm.
Auction 'Old Masters' 29 October 2014 in London, Sotheby lot 410.

16. Anonymous: Allegory of Alfonso d'Avalos, marchese del Vasto
1850
A 19th century copy after TIZIANO, oil on canvas, 117.48 x 106.04 cm.
On auction New York, Sotheby lot n°360, Oct 28, 1998, described as 'signed and inscribed lower left: d'apres Titien/H de
Yivefay Wyatt'
MutualArt

17. THEVENIN, Jean Charles : Allégorie en l'honneur d'Alphonse
d'Avalos, marquis de Guast
1867
Etching and engraving, 51,8 x 42,1 cm, by Jean Charles THEVENIN (1819 - 1869).
Paris, Musée du Louvre inventory 584 C/ Recto
Also in London, British Museum number 1891,0511.64

18. HERTZBERG, Axel Gustaf: Markis Alfonso d'Avalos och hans
älskarinna
1869
'Marquis Alfonso d'Avalos and his mistress' oil on canvas, 120 x 106 cm, by Axel Gustaf HERZBERG (1832 Jämtland -
1878 Düsseldorf).
Helsinki, Ateneum, inventory A I 411

19. THE END
This presentation was generated by myHistro.com
Author: K. Bender