Belli'ni

Belli'ni, the name of a Venetian family which produced several remarkable painters. The earliest was JACOPO BELLINI, who died in 1470. He was a pupil of the celebrated Gentile da Fabriano, and was the first to bring to Venice the skill of Florence. Most of his pictures have perished.—His elder son, GENTILE BELLINI (born probably in 1424; died 1507), was distinguished as a portrait-painter, and also for his processional groups, with fine architectural perspective. Along with his brother, he was commissioned to decorate the council-chamber of the Venetian senate. Mohammed II., having by accident seen some of his works, invited Gentile to Constantinople, employed him to execute various historical works, and dismissed him laden with presents. The 'Preaching of St Mark' is his most famous achievement.—His more celebrated brother, GIOVANNI BELLINI (born about 1428; died 1516), was the founder of the older Venetian school of painting, and contributed greatly to its progress. His works are marked at first by a somewhat hard manner and severe drawing, due to the influence of his brother-in-law, Andrea Mantegna, but gradually increase in warmth and tenderness to the very last. His best works are altar-pieces and devotional pictures, and these rank among the noblest products of the religious art of the world. Besides several examples in Venice and Naples, his 'Circumcision,' now at Castle Howard, his gorgeous 'Feast of the Gods,' at Alnwick Castle, and his 'Blood of the Redeemer,' acquired in 1887 for the National Gallery, are well known. Among his numerous pupils the most distinguished were Giorgione and Titian.