Titian 1565-1570EX PRAETERITO/PRAESENS PRUDENTER AGIT/NE FUTURA ACTIONẼ DETURPET
"Learning from yesterday, today acts prudently, lest by his action he spoil tomorrow"
The three heads allude to the three ages of man: youth, maturity and old age. The inscription is arranged in three sections associated with the respective heads underneath.
The left head resembles Titian himself in old age; the bearded central man has been thought to represent his son Orazio, while the youth may depict his cousin and heir, Marco Vecellio (born 1545).
The triple-headed beast - wolf, lion and dog - is a symbol of prudence.
Saw this today at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and it drew me in.
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