Page 32 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

30  INTRODUCING VENICE AND THE VENE T O

Styles in Venetian Art

Venetian art grew out of the Byzantine tradition of
iconographic art, designed to inspire religious awe.
Because of the trade links between Venice and
Constantinople, capital of Byzantium, the Eastern
influence lasted longer here than elsewhere in Italy.
Andrea Mantegna introduced the Renaissance style to
the Veneto in the 1460s, and his brother-in-law Giovanni
Bellini became Venice’s leading painter. In the early 16th
century Venetian artists began to develop their own
style, in which soft shading and dramatic use of light The Last Judgment (12th
distinguishes the works of Venetian masters Titian, century) from Torcello: in
Giorgione, Tintoretto and Veronese. The development the damp climate, mosaics,
of this characteristic Venetian style, which the prolific but not frescoes, were used to
lesser-known artists of the Baroque and Rococo periods decorate Venetian churches.
continued, can be seen in the chronological arrangement
of the Accademia (see pp134–7).

Byzantine Gothic
Paolo Veneziano is credited
with the move from grand-
scale mosaics to more
intimate altarpieces. His
painting mixes idealized
figures with the hair styles,
costumes and textiles
familiar to 14th-century
Venetians. The typically The Madonna’s gentle
lavish use of jewel colours face reinforces the
courtly refinement
and gold, symbol of purity, of Veneziano’s work.
can also be seen in the
work of Veneziano’s The composition and
pupil (and namesake) colours reflect the style
Lorenzo, and in the of the early Byzantine icons
gilded warrior angels which influenced the artist.
of Guariento (see p183). Arabesque patterns
on the tunics reflect
Moorish influence.
Veneziano’s entire
dazzling polyptych Musicians like
(1325) of which this is the these played at
centrepiece, is in the Paolo Veneziano’s Coronation of the Virgin grand ceremonies
Accademia (see p136). in San Marco.
1483–1539 Giovanni Pordenone
1356–72 (active)
Lorenzo Veneziano 1430–1516 Giovanni Bellini 1450– 1480–1528 Palma
1431–1506 Andrea Mantegna 1526 il Vecchio
1338–c.1368 Vittore
1480–1556
Guariento 1415–84 Antonio Vivarini Carpaccio Lorenzo Lotto
1300 1350 1400 1450
1395–1455 Antonio Pisanello 1429–1507 1467–1510 “Il
Gentile Bellini Morto da Feltre”
1400–71 Jacopo Bellini 1477–1510
1321–62 (active) 1432–99 Bartolomeo Vivarini Giorgione
Paolo Veneziano
1441–1507 Alvise Vivarini 1487–1576 Titian

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