Giovanni Bellini

Self-portrait by Giovanni Bellini in the Musei Capitolini (Rome)

Years of life:	1430 – 1516
Artist's students:	Giorgione, Titian, Sebastiano del Piombo
Art Movement:	High Renaissance
Painting School:	Venetian School

Genre:	Portrait , Religious
Country:	Italy
Century:	XV , XVI

Giovanni Bellini is the most famous artist of the Bellini family; he is a supreme master of the early Renaissance and the Father of Venetian painting. He was among the first to exploit oil-painting techniques in Venice. Giovanni’s altarpieces and portraits are famous for their splendid and warm light. Bellini’s work sings of the harmonious relationship that should exist between man, nature, and God. The profound mood and spirituality of his religious pictures result from his belief in God’s presence in light and nature.

His figures respond to light and often turn their faces and bodies toward it, in order to enjoy its physical and spiritual benefits. Bellini may have been the first artist who really looked at clouds and studied their structure and formation. Notice his love of detail in rocks, leaves, architecture, and rich materials such as silks. Over the years the sharp contours disappear, only the gradation of tones remains.

“Giovanni Bellini is very old but still the best of all …”

Albrecht Durer, 1506

Giovanni Bellini’s major works are St. Francis in the Wilderness, c. 1480 (New York: Frick Collection); Barbarigo Altarpiece, 1488, (Murano: San Pietro Martire); The Madonna of the Meadow, c. 1501 (London: National Gallery); The Doge Leonardo Loredan, 1501–04 (London: National Gallery); San Zaccaria Altarpiece, 1505 (Venice: San Zaccaria)

References:

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

Artworks:

The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane

1465

The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane • 1465
Madonna of the Meadow

1505

Madonna of the Meadow • 1505
Saint Dominic

1515

Saint Dominic • 1515
Sacred Conversation

1505

First figure from the left is Saint Peter with his attributes key and book, first figure from the right is Saint Jerome; left from Saint Mary is Saint Catherine from Alexandria with the palm of martyrdom and the broken wheel.

Sacred Conversation • 1505
Madonna and Child

between 1485 and 1490

Madonna and Child • between 1485 and 1490
Sts Christopher, Jerome and Louis of Toulouse

1513

Sts Christopher, Jerome and Louis of Toulouse • 1513
San Giobbe Altarpiece

1487

San Giobbe Altarpiece • 1487
Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Joseph of Arimathea, the Virgin and Mary Magdalene, including s. Martha and Philip Benizi

1515

Lamentation over the Dead Christ with Joseph of Arimathea, the Virgin and Mary Magdalene, including s. Martha and Philip Benizi • 1515
Madonna with Child, Madonna of the Small Trees

1487

Madonna with Child, Madonna of the Small Trees • 1487
Madonna with Child

1470

Madonna with Child • 1470
Pietà

1505

Pietà • 1505
Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels

1460

Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels • 1460
Portrait of a young Man

1500

Portrait of a young Man • 1500
Transfiguration of Christ

1487

Transfiguration of Christ • 1487
Portrait of a Young Man in Red

between 1485 and 1490

Portrait of a Young Man in Red • between 1485 and 1490
Madonna and Child (Madonna of Alzano)

between 1485 and 1487

Madonna and Child (Madonna of Alzano) • between 1485 and 1487
Presentation at the Temple

1460

Presentation at the Temple • 1460
Giovanni Emo

between 1475 and 1480

The name of model is unknown, amongst versions were: Bartolomeo d'Alviano, Bartolomeo Colleoni, Giacomo Marcello and Giovanni Emo (supposed in 1980)

Giovanni Emo • between 1475 and 1480
Saint Jerome in the Desert

1450

Saint Jerome in the Desert • 1450
Portrait of the Doge Leonardo Loredan

1501

Portrait of the Doge Leonardo Loredan • 1501
Madonna and Child

1460

Madonna and Child • 1460
Sacred Allegory

1490-1500

Sacred Allegory • 1490-1500
Madonna with the Child

1460-1464

Madonna with the Child • 1460-1464