The biggest exhibition of renaissance artist Titian to be shown in the UK is beginning at the National Gallery in London on Wednesday.

It will reunite many of the artist's masterpieces for the first time in hundreds of years.

The exhibition has gathered paintings from throughout the artist's life and from several countries.

"Titian's work encompasses mythology, religion, landscape and portraiture, and deals with heroic actions and profound passions," a statement from the National Gallery said.

The gallery's own collection - 11 Titian artworks - will also be shown together.

The Worship of Venus and The Andrians, owned by the Prado Gallery in Madrid will be reunited with the gallery's Bacchus and Ariadne for the first time in hundreds of years.

Titian was a hugely influential portrait painter

It is the first exhibition to have all three of the paintings, which were commissioned by the Duke of Ferrara around 1520.

An Italian architect has been brought in to help the gallery recreate how the paintings would have looked in the count's residence 400 years ago.

Titian, who painted in Venice in the 16th Century, is widely regarded as one of the most pioneering of all renaissance artists.

His style, using brilliant light, was an influence on other artists such as Rembrandt, El Greco, Van Dyck and Poussin.

Titian is thought to have been born in 1487 and he studied under the Venetian master Bellini before his works were commissioned by the aristocracy. He died in 1576 as the richest Venetian artist.

The exhibition is due to travel to the Prado Gallery in June.

It is the first of three renaissance shows to be held at the gallery. Exhibitions of El Greco and Raphael will follow in 2004.