In the Age of Giorgione review – defiant, forgotten face of Renaissance art

Royal Academy of Arts, London
Giorgione’s reputation was eclipsed by Titian, but this early avant garde icon revolutionised the Renaissance with his raw portrayals of human weakness

Royal Academy’s Giorgione show is an artistic puzzle

The most shocking work of art on show in London right now is a painting that’s more than 500 years old.

A woman poses behind a stone parapet in golden Venetian light. She points at herself. In her hand is a banner that reads “Col Tempo” – with time. Her clothes are ragged and so is she. Time has cut lines into her face and turned her skin to crumpled paper. She opens her mouth to reveal worn stumps of teeth as she looks back at you with grim knowledge. Dry grey threads of hair complete the portrait of decay.

Related: Who painted the enigmatic Giustiniani Portrait? You decide

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