Giovanni Bellini

It could be said that he and his brother Gentile Bellini inherited their artistic talent from their father, Jacopo Bellini, and they were all recognized as masters of their family’s craft. Giovanni was born in Venice, and was raised side by side with his brother in their father’s workshop. His unique methods of producing landscapes with detailed forms bathed in light and shadow, and using rich tints for the skyscapes, brought the beginnings of change in the practices used in the Venetian schools of art.

His earliest paintings were produced using the tempera method, where the scenes are usually bathed in the romantic and mellow colors of a sunrise. These works were more inclined to be all of a religious nature, as Bellini was seen to have a passion for painting numerous scenes of the Virgin Mary, Christ and the many saints, not only for the church, but for his many patrons. One of his more imposing and exemplary works is that of an altarpiece called the San Zaccaria, which he completed in 1505.

While he had been greatly influenced by his father, brother and also his brother-in-law, Andrea Mantegna, he in turn taught Titian and Giorgione; they were led forward by his creative techniques and both became renowned artists of in their time. Many years later Titian was to become an irksome adversary when he applied to become caretaker of the Hall of the Great Council. The position had been held by Giovanni Bellini and his brother, until his brother’s death in 1507, and Titian felt, in 1513, that it was time to take the great responsibility from his former master’s shoulders. Titian succeeded for a year, but then his application was rescinded and the position returned to Bellini.

Bellini continued painting and accepting commissions for new work, the last of which was Feast of the Gods in 1514 from Duke Alfonso I d’Este, of Ferrara. Giovanni Bellini died in 1516 before being able to complete his final work. Unfortunately, almost all of Bellini’s public works have been lost over time, due to fire and destruction, especially the terrible fire which destroyed the Doge’s Palace and much of Bellini’s legacy in 1577. Bellini’s paintings and pieces of art that do remain intact today are cherished all the more for having survived to this day.