The Lamentation over the Body of Christ 1500

Giovanni Bellini created this painting on wood panel in Venice around the late fifteenth century, using tempera and oil paint. Look closely, and you’ll notice that Bellini hasn’t just applied the paint, but has worked it almost like a low relief sculpture. The material has been built up in layers to create a tangible surface, full of texture. The effect gives the painting a sense of presence, as though it is emerging from the wall. The use of oil paint in the Lamentation allowed Bellini to achieve subtle gradations of light and shadow, and create the illusion of three-dimensionality. In this period, the Venetian workshops refined oil painting techniques, elevating its status from a mere craft to a high art. Bellini's embrace of this innovative method enabled him to imbue the painting with emotional depth, blurring the boundaries between devotion and artistry.