Overview: This special showing of Titian's famous work was arranged by chief curator Sydney Freedberg. In 1983 the work had been lent by the State Museum in Kromeriz, Czechoslovakia, for the first time in 300 years to the Genius of Venice exhibition at London's Royal Academy of Arts. Freedberg then persuaded authorities to permit the painting to travel to the United States.

Sponsor: The exhibition was supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.