Bellini

"Bellini" by George Hay is a biography that celebrates the life and work of Giovanni Bellini, a famous painter from Venice. Written in the early 1900s, the book looks at Bellini's life as an artist and how he became important in the Renaissance, all while showing what Venice was like back in the 1400s. We get to see how Bellini's style changed over time and how he affected other artists who came after him. The book starts with Bellini's early years and the things that inspired him, following his growth as an artist in Venice. Hay points out how Bellini was different from other artists of his time because he chose to focus on religious topics that showed feeling and beauty, instead of focusing on non-religious stories. The biography also helps us understand how Bellini painted, especially his use of color, while also explaining that there aren't many written documents from that time. As Hay tells the story of Bellini's career, he thinks about how important Bellini was, explaining how Bellini's dedication to religious art paved the way for Venice to become a center for painting.