Venus of Urbino is one of the most famous works of Titian, an Italian Renaissance painter. His masterful usage of art elements has created a natural beauty beyond comparison. The colors on the painting are exquisitely picked for maximum contrast. The silky white sheets contribute to the wavy figure of Venus and enhance her natural skin color. At the same time, the space of the painting puts the girl’s figure closer to a viewer through the lines of the building design, such as floor tiles and wall banners. The curvaceous form of Venus is supported by excellent use of shadows that put her nudity in the spotlight, while wavy lines add to an image of an ideal woman of that era. The most dominant part of this painting is the girl’s pelvis, as it has the highest contrast between light and dark tones with numerous curves leading to that location.
Titian used the rule of thirds by placing the girl on pillows that prop her upper frame to take an inclined position, thus attracting a viewer’s attention to her overall beauty rather than to a single spot on a painting. Moreover, through architectural designs, the depth of the artwork undoubtedly places the girl in the central area of attention. Floor tiles are utilized as leading lines to complement this idea and point toward the bed away from the background characters. Their design does not draw a viewer’s gaze away from Venus due to their calming pattern yet still creates a pleasing picture. At the same time, the texture of both the bed and the floor tiles are broken by the silky sheets on which Venus lies, isolating the centerpiece from the rest of the composition. In conclusion, Titian used numerous compositional strategies to direct one’s gaze to the beauty of the depicted woman.