The Golden Age of Venetian Painting 1475–1576 / Introduction

The century between the advent of Antonello da Messina in 1475 and the death of Titian in 1576 is considered the Golden Age of Venetian painting. What had been a minor regional school achieved international prominence and influenced the future of European art in general for centuries. Central to this achievement was the genius of a succession of painters from Giovanni Bellini and his brother Gentile, Carpaccio, Giorgione, to the great Titian and his younger contemporaries Tintoretto and Veronese. These painters worked in a city undergoing crisis and change: the decline of its maritime empire, the reduction of its monopoly of trade with the East, its near destruction as a state in the early sixteenth century, and the religious turmoil engendered by the Reformation and the reaction of the Roman Church to it. Governed by an oligarchy of merchant nobles who elected a Doge, Venice remained politically stable throughout this turbulent period and continued to flourish economically. The state, the lay confraternities (called scuole) and private individuals provided sufficient patronage and support for a brilliant school of painting to develop in both secular and religious art. The cultural context and history of this school will be studied in eight lectures, followed by a full-day visit to the National Gallery to consider first-hand its outstanding collection of Venetian renaissance paintings.

Why did Renaissance Venice give rise to one of the greatest traditions of painting in the entire history of art? In this introductory session the city of Venice itself will be the focus: its stable political system, its unique position in the Mediterranean world, its pivotal position as a centre of pan-European communication and of print culture. Its class system, sources of wealth and civic institutions will be shown to be central to its cultural achievements. The different categories of patronage in the city will be discussed, as will the ways in which painters could benefit from these sources of employment. Venice's success in promoting its own 'myth' as a miraculously-endowed city with its own unique destiny was largely accomplished through visual media including paintings. This 'success' will be shown to be central to its enduring fame and influence but also to its current crisis as a magnet for global tourism.

Register to tell a friend about this lecture.

Comments

If you would like to comment about this lecture, please register here.

©2003-2006 Niminim Limited. Created by

Any ad revenue is entirely reinvested into the Lecture List's operating fund