Andrea Mantegna

Self-Portrait, 1506

Years of life:	1431 – 1506
Artist's Teachers:	Francesco Squarcione
Art Movement:	Early Renaissance, High Renaissance
Painting School:	Venetian School, Paduan School

Genre:	Religious
Country:	Italy
Century:	XV , XVI

He was one of the greatest painters of the early Renaissance. He worked at the court for the dukes of Gonzaga at Mantua. Mantegna combined his fascination with antiquity with an interest in the accurate rendering of natural phenomena and his selfless belief in linear perspective. His frescoes often depict architectural structures with mathematical precision. Mantegna was also one of the pioneers of printmaking — with superb engraving technique, which suited his style perfectly.

Notice the extraordinary outcrops of rock and the way he could make everything (even human flesh) look like carved stone (late monochrome works consciously look like bas-relief sculpture). Stunning mastery of scientific perspective and foreshortening — seen at its most impressive in his large, decorative schemes.

Andrea Mantegna’s major works are St. James Led to His Execution, c. 1455 (Padua: Ovetari Chapel, Church of the Eremitani); St. Sebastian, c. 1455–60 (Vienna: Kunsthistorisches Museum)

References:

Robert Cumming. Art: complete encyclopedia. – 512 p. – Moscow: Astrel, 2005.

Artworks:

Christ's Descent into Limbo

1470–1475

Christ's Descent into Limbo • 1470–1475
The Triumphs of Caesar

between 1486 and 1505

The Triumphs of Caesar • between 1486 and 1505
The Triumphs of Caesar

between 1486 and 1505

The Triumphs of Caesar • between 1486 and 1505
Altar of Saint Luke

from 1453 until 1454

Altar of Saint Luke • from 1453 until 1454
Stories of St. James

between 1447 and 1456

Stories of St. James • between 1447 and 1456
Stories of St. James

between 1447 and 1456

Stories of St. James • between 1447 and 1456
Holy Family and the Family of Saint John the Baptist

between 1504 and 1506

Holy Family and the Family of Saint John the Baptist • between 1504 and 1506
Christ the Redeemer

1493

Christ the Redeemer • 1493
Trivulzio Madonna

1497

Trivulzio Madonna • 1497
Virgin and Child with Saints

1500

Virgin and Child with Saints • 1500
Virgin and Child

between 1480 and 1495

Virgin and Child • between 1480 and 1495
Baptism of Christ

1506

Baptism of Christ • 1506
The Infant Savior

1455-1460

The Infant Savior • 1455-1460
The Resurrection

1457-1459 (most sources state 1459)

The Resurrection • 1457-1459 (most sources state 1459)
Pallas Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue

between 1499 and 1502

Pallas Expelling the Vices from the Garden of Virtue • between 1499 and 1502
Man Laying on a Stone Slab

between 1475 and 1485

Man Laying on a Stone Slab • between 1475 and 1485
Arrival of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga

between 1465 and 1474

Arrival of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga • between 1465 and 1474
Christ with the animula of the Madonna

between 1460 and 1464

Christ with the animula of the Madonna • between 1460 and 1464
The Adoration of the Shepherds

1450

The Adoration of the Shepherds • 1450
St. Jerome in the Wilderness

from 1448 until 1451 (from 1450 until 1451 ?)

St. Jerome in the Wilderness • from 1448 until 1451 (from 1450 until 1451 ?)
Portrait of a Man

1460

Portrait of a Man • 1460
Portrait of Francesco Gonzaga

1460s

Portrait of Francesco Gonzaga • 1460s
The Madonna of the Cherubim

1485

The Madonna of the Cherubim • 1485
Judith and Holofernes

1495

Judith and Holofernes • 1495
Barbara von Brandenburg

Barbara von Brandenburg
Death of the Virgin

1461

Death of the Virgin • 1461
The lamentation over the dead Christ

between 1470 and 1474

The lamentation over the dead Christ • between 1470 and 1474
San Zeno Altarpiece. Enthroned Madonna and Angels

between 1457 and 1460

San Zeno Altarpiece. Enthroned Madonna and Angels • between 1457 and 1460
Agony in the Garden

1459

Agony in the Garden • 1459
Adoration of the Magi

about 1495 - 1505

Adoration of the Magi • about 1495 - 1505
The Holy Family

between 1495 and 1500

The Holy Family • between 1495 and 1500
The Circumcision

between 1460 and 1464

The Circumcision • between 1460 and 1464
The Ascension of Christ

between 1460 and 1464

The Ascension of Christ • between 1460 and 1464
The Adoration of the Shepherds

shortly after 1450

The Adoration of the Shepherds • shortly after 1450
Saint Sebastian

1459/60

Saint Sebastian • 1459/60
The Presentation

1454

The Presentation • 1454
Portrait of Carlo de' Medici

between 1460 and 1466

Portrait of Carlo de' Medici • between 1460 and 1466
Portrait of a Man, presumed as Janus Pannonius

1470

Portrait of a Man, presumed as Janus Pannonius • 1470
Parnassus

1497

Parnassus • 1497
Madonna with child and three saints

1485

Madonna with child and three saints • 1485
Mark the Evangelist

1450

Mark the Evangelist • 1450
Baptism of Christ

1505

Baptism of Christ • 1505
Christ as the Suffering Redeemer

1495-1500

Christ as the Suffering Redeemer • 1495-1500