Giovanni Bellini (1433 - 1516) - an outstanding Renaissance painter, the youngest son of the Venetian artist Jacopo Bellini. Giovanni's first mentor was his father, and Gentile's older brother also had some influence on the work of the novice draftsman.
Kinship with the master
The most significant role in the formation of the young artist was played by the famous painter Andrea Mantegna, who entered the Bellini family in 1453, becoming the husband of the sister of Giovanni, Nikolozia.
Personal relations between newly made relatives quickly grew into a mutual professional interest related to painting. Andrea, as the brightest representative of the Tuscan and Florentine schools of painting, managed to convey to Giovanni all his experience. After Andrea became the court painter of the Duke of Gonzag in 1460, his lessons took on a periodic character, but the influence of the master remained significant.
Theme
Pictures by Bellini Giovanni of the first period of his work are distinguished by a special focus on the subject of the plot. He chose the Madonna and Child. Subsequently, the artist will write many Madonnas in the Venetian style, they will all be portrayed as thoughtful and lost in thought. Almost all of Bellini Giovanni's paintings are marked with the stamp of an in-depth self-contemplation of the characters. The best "Madonna" written by him in 1460 is considered the "Greek Madonna".
The canvas 82x62 centimeters in size is created with elements of icon-painting classics, the Madonna resembles the Virgin Mary, but with greater expressiveness in life. The baby in her arms is depicted in a more material dimension.
Paintings of Bellini Giovanni, dedicated to the Madonna, although they wore a shade of holiness, were still quite earthly. The artist did not seek to give his characters a biblical spirit, this was done involuntarily, since the theme of the images was rather closely intertwined with the canons of theology. In addition, during the Middle Ages, religious beliefs dominated all spheres of public life, and only those artists who followed church laws were in demand. All others were declared heretics.
Sacredness
In 1462, Giovanni set about creating four large triptychs for the church in Venice, which were set up on the family halls of the Scuola. The paintings by Bellini Giovanni by that time had already lost the rigidity of the image, characteristic of aspiring artists, the composition became softer, smoother. And although his main mentor, Andrea Montaigne, preached precisely the rigidity of the drawing, Giovanni moved away from this postulate. He developed his own style of writing.
Dutch methods
Between 1470 and 1480 Bellini was influenced by the famous master of portraiture Antonello da Messina, known for his technique of using the purely oil method of painting. This manner Da Messina adopted from the Dutch artists. He denied temperament, preferring oil paints, which, in his opinion, are able to fully convey the depth of light saturation.
Bellini Giovanni, whose paintings already contained colored shadows, became a follower of the teachings of Antonello. The paintings "Mourning of Christ" (1480) and "Madonna and Saints" (1476) are an example of the tragic grandeur reflected in the manner of oil painting. The art of Bellini of that time traces the transition from the early Renaissance to the era of the High Renaissance.
"Madonna and Saints"
The painting was painted for the church of San Jobb in Venice and was an altar image of Sacra Conversazione. Elements of iconography are noticeable in the image, the Madonna stands on a throne before the church apse, the saints surrounding her are in a state of thoughtful contemplation. The arrangement of characters is deeply thought out, there is a relationship between the saints. The Madonna is outside the space given to others - she has her own level.
The church image of the painting by Bellini Giovanni "Madonna and Saints" is distinguished by its balanced composition, enlightened by the spirituality of the characters, lost in thought. The artist tries to combine the holiness of the plot with colorful outfits, and he succeeds to the full extent - the content of the canvas is organic and submits to the author’s intention.
"Lake Madonna"
At the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Bellini Giovanni, whose paintings were already considered an example of high art, created one of his most significant works. It was the "Lake Madonna", which gave the impression of an elusive touch of life and death. Hence the inescapable religiosity of the canvas, the depth of peace and purity. "Sacred allegory" (another name for the picture) gathered on the Venetian terrace the main characters of the sacred sense, which are interconnected in the context of the artist's worldview. This is the Virgin, towering on a marble throne; women; old men; Sebastian pierced by arrows; babies on the mosaic floor. Behind the railing are the apostles Paul and Peter.
Bellini Giovanni, "Madonna and Child"
One of the most famous paintings by the artist is currently in the largest museum in the world - "Metropolitan" (in New York). A canvas measuring 89x71 centimeters represents the Renaissance. The picture is comparable in popularity only to the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, which is located in the Paris Louvre.
Crucifix
On the canvas, created in 1503, the artist depicted the executed Jesus Christ. The picture is dominated by a strict perspective, turning into an expanded space. The organic interaction of volumes softens the tension of the plot. In Bellini Giovanni's painting "The Crucifixion", there are traced the "chichevento" painting techniques, which the artist will refer to more than once in his future work.
The crucifixion of Christ is reflected against the backdrop of the attributes of Islam, in the distance minarets and buildings in the eastern style are visible. The cross is dug among the abandoned cemetery monuments, on the ground below are human skulls. The general situation is depressing, not a soul around. Jesus crucified on the cross is emphasized lonely.
Painting as a cultural heritage
Pictures of Bellini Giovanni with a description of the plot, an indication of the period of creation and other data are in the largest museums in the world. All of them are part of the world cultural heritage and belong to all of humanity. Even those canvases owned by private collectors are indirectly included in UNESCO lists as an integral part of world culture.
Special publishers publish museum catalogs representing the works of Giovanni Bellini - paintings (with names, date of origin, chronology and storage conditions). The books also contain biographical information about the painter, the history of his life and death.
Masterpieces
Over his long life, the artist wrote thirty-nine works, many of which are included in the collections of world-famous museums.
These are the paintings by Bellini Giovanni. The list is impressive:
- "Dead Christ, supported by the angels", 1460, Venice, Correr Museum .
- "Madonna and Child", 1455, is in the Museum of Pavia.
- "St. Jerome Preaches to the Lion", 1450, Birmingham, Barber Institute.
- The Greek Madonna, 1460, Brera Gallery, Milan.
- The Prayer for the Chalice, 1455, London, National Gallery.
- Pieta, 1455, Bergamo, Carrara Academy.
- "Bringing to the Temple", 1460, Venice, Kverini Stampaglia Gallery.
- Transfiguration, 1455, Venice, Correr Museum.
- Pieta, 1458, Milan, Brera Gallery.
- "Triptych of St. Sebastian", 1464, Venice, gallery of the Academy.
- Polyptych of St. Vincenzo Ferrera, 1466, Venice, Church of Santi Giovanni Paolo.
- "Altar of Pesaro", 1480, is in the museum of the city of Pesaro.
- The Coronation of Mary, 1479, Pesaro.
- "Holy Terence", 1480, Pesaro.
- "St. George", 1481, Pesaro.
- "Madonna and Saints. Altar of San Jobb", 1478, Venice, Academy Gallery.
- Madonna, 1475, Venice, Correr Museum.
- Madonna, 1479, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Madonna, 1483, Bergamo, Carrara Academy.
- "Madonna", 1487, Venice, Academy Gallery.
- Triptych of Frari, 1488, Venice.
- "St. Mark", 1465, Murano.
- Holy Interview, 1490, Venice.
- "Portrait of a Young Man in Red," 1490, Washington.
- "Portrait of a Young Man," 1500, Washington.
- "Portrait of the Condottier," 1487, Washington.
- "Portrait of Doge Loredano", 1501, London, National Gallery.
- "Sacred Allegory (Lake Madonna)", 1498, Florence, Uffizi Gallery.
- Madonna in the Meadow, 1505, London.
- Pieta, 1514, Venice.
- "Madonna on the Throne", 1506, Venice, Church of San Zaccaria.
- "Saints", 1513, Venice, church of San Giovanni Crizostomo.
- "Naked by the Mirror," 1516, Vienna.
- The Mourning of Christ, 1510, Venice.
- "Feast of the Gods", 1514, Washington.
- "Portrait of Theodoro de Urbino", 1515, London.
Most of the masterpieces of Giovanni Bellini are in Italy. They are the property of museums in Venice, Bergamo, Florence and other major cities. No paintings by the famous artist in Rome. This, apparently, is due to the fact that during the High Renaissance, the papal throne used the services of more venerable painters, and Giovanni was just starting his career. In addition, his paintings, although carrying elements of icon painting, were still earthly, and the Vatican needed frescoes for churches and cathedrals in the biblical style.
Some of Giovanni Bellini's works are in major museums around the world, such as the Metropolitan in New York or in Washington. There are many masterpieces in London.