Frari Triptych 1488

Giovanni Bellini's Frari Triptych was made in Venice from oil on wood panels. While the oil painting is the main focus, the carpentry of the frame is also remarkable. Consider the work that went into this elaborate structure. The complex carving is integral to the painting's effect. It directs our attention and lends an atmosphere of grandeur, deeply affecting how the painting is experienced. It also emphasizes its physical presence. Back then, Venice was a wealthy mercantile centre. The materials and skills necessary to produce something like this would have been expensive. The work speaks to the economics of devotion: a demonstration of both faith and affluence. By considering the skill and labour involved in its making, we can move beyond the idea of the altarpiece as simply a painting. It's a physical manifestation of faith made real through collaborative effort.