Giovanni Bellini Program Notes and Sheet Music

Giovanni Bellini (c. 1430 – 29 November 1516) was an Italian painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters. He was raised in the household of Jacopo Bellini, formerly thought to have been his father, but now that familial generational relationship is questioned. An older brother, Gentile Bellini was more highly regarded than Giovanni during his lifetime, but the reverse is true today. His brother-in-law was Andrea Mantegna.

Bellini was born in Venice, and studied under his father and Andrea Mantegna. He was one of the first Italian painters to use oil paint, and his work is characterized by its use of light and color. He was also one of the first Italian painters to use landscape as a major element in his compositions.

Bellini was a prolific painter, and his work includes altarpieces, portraits, and mythological paintings. Some of his most famous works include:

Bellini was a highly influential artist, and his work was admired by many of the leading painters of the Renaissance, including Titian and Raphael. He is considered one of the greatest painters of the Italian Renaissance.