Christmas Bellini

It's Christmas and it's time to post a painting or two by the great Venetian Giovanni Bellini who lived a long and productive life and mentored a whole generation of artists from Titian to Durer.

Here is the triptych he painted for the sacristy of the Frari Church in Venice that still stands upon its original altar. These are new reproductions. Apparently the painting has been restored in the 20 years since I last saw it. It is so much brighter and clearer here than I remember it. The little strips of landscape in the side panels are much more vivid here than I remember. A magical painting.


Giovanni Bellini, The Frari Triptych, 1488 in the sacristy of the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. Commissioned as a memorial for Franceschina Tron by her sons. She is buried under a slab in front of the altar with this painting.



The Madonna and Child from the Frari Triptych




Saint Nicholas and Saint Peter





Saint Mark and Saint Benedict