DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51584#0185
THE BELLINI.
181
fluences. The commercial intercourse between
Venice and Germany brought several pictures and
painters of Germany and the Netherlands into
Venice. In the island of Murano, at Venice,
dwelt a family called the Vivarini, who had carried
on the art of painting from generation to genera-
tion, and who had associated with them some of the
early Flemings : thus it was that the painters of the
first Venetian school became familiarized with a
style of colouring more rich and vivid than was
practised in any other part of Italy : they were
among the first who substituted oil painting for
distemper. To these advantages the elder Bellini
added the knowledge of drawing and perspective
taught in the Paduan school, and the religious and
spiritual feeling which they derived from the ex-
ample and instruction of Gentile da Fabriano. In
these combined elements Gian Bellini was educated,
and founded the Venetian school, afterwards so
famous and so prolific in great artists.
The two brothers were first employed together in
an immense work, which may be compared in its
importance and its object to the contemplated de-
coration of our houses of parliament. They were
commanded to paint the Hall of Council in the
palace of the Doge with a series of pictures repre-
senting the principal events (partly legendary and
fictitious, partly authentic) of the Venetian wars
with the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa (1177); the
i 3
181
fluences. The commercial intercourse between
Venice and Germany brought several pictures and
painters of Germany and the Netherlands into
Venice. In the island of Murano, at Venice,
dwelt a family called the Vivarini, who had carried
on the art of painting from generation to genera-
tion, and who had associated with them some of the
early Flemings : thus it was that the painters of the
first Venetian school became familiarized with a
style of colouring more rich and vivid than was
practised in any other part of Italy : they were
among the first who substituted oil painting for
distemper. To these advantages the elder Bellini
added the knowledge of drawing and perspective
taught in the Paduan school, and the religious and
spiritual feeling which they derived from the ex-
ample and instruction of Gentile da Fabriano. In
these combined elements Gian Bellini was educated,
and founded the Venetian school, afterwards so
famous and so prolific in great artists.
The two brothers were first employed together in
an immense work, which may be compared in its
importance and its object to the contemplated de-
coration of our houses of parliament. They were
commanded to paint the Hall of Council in the
palace of the Doge with a series of pictures repre-
senting the principal events (partly legendary and
fictitious, partly authentic) of the Venetian wars
with the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa (1177); the
i 3