Giovanni Bellini
zoom in zoom out

Giovanni Bellini

Master of the Early Italian Renaissance

Giovanni Bellini, known as Giambellino, is born into a painter family in Venice in 1430. His father, Jacopo Bellini, maintains a thriving workshop. Here, he not only offers Giovanni and his older brother Gentile a grounded painter’s training, but a certain Andrea Mantegna as well. Mantegna is born the same year as Bellini and not only becomes his brother-in-law but next to Bellini the most important representative of the Early Italian Renaissance.

Bellini’s early work is already distinctive in its striking use of colour and intensive light effects. He works almost exclusively in his home city Venice and is named its official painter on February 26, 1483. In this function he frequently takes on state commissions and is active as a mentor in his own workshop. His most famous pupil is Titian, described by Albrecht Dürer as “the greatest artist of his time.”

Bellini’s most famous works are the Holy Allegory, Madonna and Child (created for Isabella Gonzaga of Mantua), Sacred Conversation and Madonna Enthroned. Bellini dies in Venice on November 29, 1516, at the age of nearly 90.

Fields marked with * are required.