Titian
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Titian. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
or TIZIANO, VECELLIO, (tēt-se-ä'nō va-chel'lē-o), one of the most distinguished of the great Italian painters, and head of the Venetian school; born in Pieve de Cadore, in the Carnic Alps, in 1477. He studied under Giovanni Bellini of Venice, and in 1507 was associated with the painter Giorgione in executing certain frescoes. In 1511 he was invited to Padua, where he executed three remarkable frescoes still to be seen. In 1512 he completed the unfinished pictures of Giovanni Bellini in the Sala del Gran Consiglio at Venice, and the senate were so pleased that they gave him an important office. To this period are attributed his pictures of the "Tribute Money" and "Sacred and Profane Love." In 1514 he painted a portrait of Ariosto at Ferrara, and after his return to Venice he painted an "Assumption of the Virgin" (1516), considered one of the finest pictures in the world; it is now in the Academy of the Fine Arts in Venice. About 1528 he produced his magnificent picture, "The Death of St. Peter the Martyr"-"a picture," says Algarotti, "in which the great masters admitted they could not find a fault," unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1867. In 1530 the Emperor Charles V. invited him to Bologna to paint his portrait and execute various other commissions. In 1532 he again painted the emperor's portrait, and he is said to have accompanied Charles to Madrid, where he received several honors. He remained, it is said, three years in Spain, in which country many of his masterpieces, such as "The Sleeping Venus," "Christ in the Garden," "St. Margaret and the Dragon," are still to be found. In 1537 he painted an "Annunciation," and in 1541 he produced "The Descent of the Holy Ghost on the Apostles," "The Sacrifice of Abraham," and "David and Goliath. " In 1543 he painted his picture of "The Virgin and San Tiziano"; and in 1545 he visited Rome, where he painted the famous group of Pope Paul III., the Cardinal Farnese, and Duke Ottavio Farnese. He was patronized as warmly ronized by Philip II. as by his father Charles V. Of Titian's private life but little is . known Titian excelled as much in landscape as in figure painting, was equally great in sacred great and profane subjects, in ideal heads and in portraits , in frescoes 12% VECELLIO TITIAN and in oils; and though others may have surpassed him in single points, none equalled him in general mastery. As a colorist he is almost unrivalled, and his pictures often reach the perfection of sensuous beauty. He died of the plague in 1576 aged 99, having painted to the last with almost undiminished powers.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
tish'an (1477-1576), a celebrated Venetian painter. Titian painted many religious pictures--Madonnas, Holy Families, The Descent From the Cross, etc., also many portraits of Emperor Charles V and other distinguished people. Venus and female figures were favorite subjects. Little is known of Titian's private life. He is believed to have lived in luxury, and to have died of the plague. He is known to have painted at Bologna, Augsburg, and Rome; but his favorite place of residence was Venice. He kept at work until he was over ninety. Over one hundred of his paintings are shown in the museums of Venice, Rome, Madrid, Florence, and Naples. A few are at Dresden, Berlin, and London. Art critics consider Titian a great master of coloring, of light and shade. The private observer feels, however, that Titian is satisfied with mere beauty and that something is lacking. One doesn't seem to get more thought out of his pictures the longer he looks at them. Titian is considered the master of all portrait painters, the greatest colorist of all the schools. Michelangelo said: "It is a great pity they do not learn to draw well in Venice; this man would have had no equal if he had strengthened his natural genius by the knowledge of drawing." See Raphael ; Painting