Sarah Browning: Titian’s San Christoforo

Ducal Palace, Venice, 1523

The saint’s massive muscled arms –

arms for the forge, for fighting, for tending

and laboring – reach toward heaven, toward the baby god

on his shoulder, who himself gestures toward heaven,

gripping the saint’s shoulders with his fat feet,

so the painting is filled by the saint and his

huge bare thigh – Venice a tiny sketch of city at his feet.

Titian loved this man.

Copyright 2017 Sarah Browning

Sarah Browning’s recent book is Killing Summer (Sibling Rivalry Press 2017)

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