Polyptych of San Vincenzo Ferreri 1468

Giovanni Bellini painted this panel of Saint Vincent Ferrer, probably in the 1460s, as part of a large polyptych, for the Dominican church of San Zanipolo. Bellini’s painting is rooted in the religious culture of Venice. Note the book and the flame. These are visual codes, recognizable to any contemporary observer. They refer to the Saint’s preaching, which spread the word of God, and his role as an inquisitor rooting out heresy. The work reflects the institutions of the time. The Dominicans were a powerful order, embedded in Venetian political and social life. The church of San Zanipolo, where this painting hung, was a major site of civic ritual. Looking at the image, you might consider its role within the city of Venice. What did it mean for the people who came into contact with it? In this case, research into the history of the Dominican order and Venetian statecraft would be helpful. We might also investigate the place of images in the religious life of the city.