“most devoted, humble servant,

     “TITIANO VECELLIO.

     “From Venice, the 1st of August, 1571.”

Here, then, is Titian himself, in the year 1571, declaring that he is ninety-five years of age—­in other words, dating his birth back to 1476—­that is, some thirteen years earlier than Dolce and Vasari imply was the case.  A flagrant discrepancy of evidence!  In similar strain he thus addresses the king again five years later:[159]

“Your Catholic and Royal Majesty,—­The infinite benignity with which your Catholic Majesty—­by natural habit—­is accustomed to gratify all such as have served and still serve your Majesty faithfully, enboldens me to appear with the present (letter) to recall myself to your royal memory, in which I believe that my old and devoted service will have kept me unaltered.  My prayer is this:  twenty years have elapsed and I have never had any recompense for the many pictures sent on divers occasions to your Majesty; but having received intelligence from the Secretary Antonio Perez of your Majesty’s wish to gratify me, and having reached a great old age not without privations, I now humbly beg that your Majesty will deign, with accustomed benevolence, to give such directions to ministers as will relieve my want.  The glorious memory of Charles the Fifth, your Majesty’s father, having numbered me amongst his familiar, nay, most faithful servants, by honouring me beyond my deserts with the title of cavaliere, I wish to be able, with the favour and protection of your Majesty—­true portrait of that immortal emperor—­to support as it deserves the name of a cavaliere, which is so honoured and esteemed in the world; and that it may be known that the services done by me during many years to the most serene house of Austria have met with grateful return, to spend what remains of my days in the service of your Majesty.  For this I should feel the more obliged, as I should thus be consoled in my old age, whilst praying to God to concede to your Majesty a long and happy life with increase of his divine grace and exaltation of your Majesty’s Kingdom.  In the meanwhile I expect from the royal benevolence of your Majesty the fruits of the favour I desire, with due reverence and humility, and kissing your sacred hands,

     “I am Your Catholic Majesty’s

     “most humble and devoted servant,

     “TITIANO VECELLIO.

     “From Venice, the 27th of February, 1576.”

This is the last letter we have of Titian, who died in August of this year, according to his own showing, in his hundredth year.