Pesaro Altarpiece (predella) 1474

This is a section from the predella of the Pesaro Altarpiece, painted in oil on panel by Giovanni Bellini around 1472. Bellini would have carefully prepared the panel with layers of gesso, a white ground that creates a smooth surface for painting. Oil paint allowed for a slow, meticulous approach, building up layers of color and detail. Note, for example, the carefully rendered textures of the horses' coats, the sheen of the armor, and the atmospheric perspective of the landscape. The layering of paint allows for the creation of luminous, almost translucent effects, especially in the sky. Bellini's mastery of this new medium, oil on panel, reflects the shift in artistic practice during the Renaissance, as artists sought to emulate the natural world with greater fidelity. Consider the labour invested in the creation of this artwork. The careful preparation of the panel, the grinding of pigments, and the meticulous application of paint, all speak to a deep engagement with the materiality of art making, and the transition between craft and fine art.