Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. TIZIANO VECELIO, The Assumption Altarpiece(1516-1518). The story of the Virgin Mary is told in this marvellous painting, which celebrates the solemnity of the Assumption, a feast which was already established in the 5th century in the East. Even the iconography dates back to ancient times with various artistic and theological features. In the Chapter House of the Basilica, the “Dormitio Virginis” had already been portrayed on a Byzantine sepulchral monument of Doge Francesco Dandolo (+1339). Titian’s genius gave the Assumption its unmistakable and unbeatable touch. The stunning altar-piece (6.68x3.44 metres), started in 1516 and formed by 21 horizontal lines, was positioned in the marble frame on 19th May 1518. The Virgin, dressed in red with open arms, stands in the centre of a bright light and soars above the apostles who are astonished and gesture frenetically. All of the critics agree that in this painting there is such a grandiose style, finesse of composition, sublime creativity, audacious touch, prodigious transparency of colour to make this an unsurpassable masterpiece.