[The name Titian, for Tiziano Vecellio, Venetian painter, died 1576.] With capital T. A picture by Titian, or after his style. Also attrib. or adj., denoting a color of the hair favored by Titian in his pictures, described as a ‘bright golden auburn,’ and more loosely used as an appreciative word for ‘red.’
As examples showing the distinctive color are given ‘Ariadne’ and ‘The Magdalene’ in the National Gallery, London, ‘Flora’ in the Uffizi Palace, Florence, etc.
1759. Public Advertiser, 23 May, 3/2. For an Engraving in Wood … of those Prints commonly call’d Titians.
1824. Byron, Juan, XVI. lvi. A special Titian, warranted original.
1896. J. Ashby-Sterry, Tale Thames, xix. (1903), 111/1. Three maidens … all with Titian-tinted tresses.
1904. Dundee Advertiser, 27 June, 8/1. Twenty years ago hair with a reddish tinge was called ‘carrots’; now ‘Titian-coloured’ locks are reckoned a definite beauty.
1904. Benson, Challoners, v. The girl … had Titian hair in golden glorious profusion.
Hence Titianic a., of or belonging to Titian; Titianesque a. [see -ESQUE], in the style of Titian.
1842. Tennyson, Gard. Dau., 167. You cannot fail but work in hues to dim The *Titianic Flora.
1801. Fuselli, in Lect. Paint., ii. (1848), 403. The *Titianesque colour of Hans Holbein.
1864. Lowell, Fireside Trav., 49. He said, ‘Excuse me, sir,’ in a very Titianesque manner.
1895. Trotter, Mrq. Dalhousie, iii. 76. A noble handsome Titianesque head.
