Italian Painter. He came from Venice's leading family of artists, and at least in the early part of his career was more highly regarded than his younger brother Giovanni Bellini. Beginning in 1474, he was the official portrait artist for the Doges of Venice, and as well as his portraits he painted a number of very large subjects with multitudes of figures, especially for the Scuole Grandi of Venice, wealthy individuals that were very important in the Venetian patrician social life. In 1479 he was sent to Constantinople by the Venetian government when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II requested an artist, and returned the following year. Thereafter, a number of his subjects were set in the East, and he is one of the founders of the Orientalist tradition in Western painting. His portrait of the Sultan was also copied in paintings and prints and became known all over Europe. His earliest signed work is "The Blessed Lorenzo Giustinian" (1445), and is one of the oldest surviving oil paintings in Venice (now at the Accademia Museum). During the 1450s he worked on a commission for the Scuola Grande di San Marco and painted in conjunction with his brother, Giovanni. His other significant contributions include the "Procession of the True Cross in Piazza San Marco" (1496), "Miracle of the True Cross at the S. Lorenzo Bridge" (1500), and the "Madonna and Child Enthroned" (late 15th century).
Italian Painter. He came from Venice's leading family of artists, and at least in the early part of his career was more highly regarded than his younger brother Giovanni Bellini. Beginning in 1474, he was the official portrait artist for the Doges of Venice, and as well as his portraits he painted a number of very large subjects with multitudes of figures, especially for the Scuole Grandi of Venice, wealthy individuals that were very important in the Venetian patrician social life. In 1479 he was sent to Constantinople by the Venetian government when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II requested an artist, and returned the following year. Thereafter, a number of his subjects were set in the East, and he is one of the founders of the Orientalist tradition in Western painting. His portrait of the Sultan was also copied in paintings and prints and became known all over Europe. His earliest signed work is "The Blessed Lorenzo Giustinian" (1445), and is one of the oldest surviving oil paintings in Venice (now at the Accademia Museum). During the 1450s he worked on a commission for the Scuola Grande di San Marco and painted in conjunction with his brother, Giovanni. His other significant contributions include the "Procession of the True Cross in Piazza San Marco" (1496), "Miracle of the True Cross at the S. Lorenzo Bridge" (1500), and the "Madonna and Child Enthroned" (late 15th century).
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Advertisement
