Titian Showing the Entombment to Charles V and Clement VII by Daniel Huntington

Titian Showing The Entombment to Charles V and Clement VII
Daniel Huntington (1816–1906)
Oil on canvas, 38 1/4 × 58 1/2 in.
Signed lower right: D. Huntington

In this masterfully orchestrated historical scene, the Venetian Renaissance painter Titian presents his work The Entombment to Emperor Charles V and Pope Clement VII. Gathered in an opulent interior adorned with tapestries, armor, and musical instruments, the assembled figures embody a moment of shared cultural reverence and political alliance. Huntington’s attention to costume, gesture, and architectural detail animates this imagined yet plausible encounter between art, power, and piety.

Daniel Huntington was a leading figure in 19th-century American art and holds the distinction of serving as president of the National Academy of Design for a record-setting term. A painter of portraits, historical subjects, and idealized allegories, Huntington brought a refined academic sensibility to his compositions. His work often reflects the intellectual and moral ideals of his era, carefully rendered through classical technique and narrative depth.

Exhibited:

• New York, National Academy of Design, Annual Exhibition, 1874, no. 332

• (Possibly) Washington, D.C., National Collection of Fine Art, Smithsonian Institution, American Art of the Centennial, May 28 – Nov. 28, 1976