Venetian painting is characterized by deep, rich colors and a strong interest in the effects of light.
1400 - 1500
Venetian painting is characterized by deep, rich colors and a strong interest in the effects of light.
1400 - 1500
Venice had everything—a stable republican government led by a Doge (“Duke”), wealth from trade, and a unique location as a gateway between Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire.
We're adding new content all the time!
Bellini zooms in on three figures—the Virgin Mary, Christ, and John—to create a sense of our being with them after Christ's death
A painting shows life on the Grand Canal of Venice, including Black gondoliers
What are Persian carpets, a peacock, and a cucumber doing in a painting of The Annunciation?
What do a cucumber, a fly, figures in turbans, and ancient reliefs tell us about the Madonna and Child?
Printing and publishing in fifteenth century Venice, the Silicon Valley of its day
Brotherhoods lent stability to religious and civic life. These wealthy institutions also commissioned paintings.
10 inches—that’s how far Venice has sunk. As sea levels and tourism rise, can this historic city survive?
This canvas was rolled, varnished, reworked, and revised again. A classical scene, it once hung in a study.
Now in Technicolor! Mantegna’s saturated paint and vivid illusionism bring the Court of Heaven to life.
Their island climate didn’t suit fresco, so the Venetians tried oils instead—these paints blend when wet.
Bellini opens up this painting’s space, but holds the viewer at bay. The mood is calm, solemn, and contemplative.
Bank of America's Masterpiece Moment
While the movement of her body, buoyancy of her drapery and beating of her wings reflect the energy characteristic of the Hellenistic era, the artist and patron remain unknown. Learn more about this sculptural masterpiece with the President and CEO of the Musée du Louvre.