San Cassiano Altarpiece
Encyclopedia
The San Cassiano Altarpiece is a painting by the Italian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina
, dating to 1475-1476. Commissioned for the church of San Cassiano
in Venice
, it is now housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum
in Vienna
. It was one of the most influential paintings in the Veneto area of the time.
Allegedly inspired by another Holy Conversation by Giovanni Bellini
in the church of San Giovanni e Paolo (now known only through copies), it feature however a more balance composition and a more sober architecture. Antonello adopted a pyramidal layout, enhanced by the accurate use of light.
The book with three golden balls hold by St. Nicholas alludes to the episode in which he gifted them to three girls to be used as dowry.
Antonello da Messina
Antonello da Messina, properly Antonello di Giovanni di Antonio was an Italian painter from Messina, Sicily, active during the Italian Renaissance...
, dating to 1475-1476. Commissioned for the church of San Cassiano
San Cassiano
San Cassiano is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy....
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, it is now housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum
Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is an art museum in Vienna, Austria. Housed in its festive palatial building on Ringstraße, it is crowned with an octagonal dome...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. It was one of the most influential paintings in the Veneto area of the time.
History
Originally a larger altarpiece, it now comprises only the central panel with the Virgin Enthroned, and four half-busts of saints: St. Nicholas of Bari, St. Mary Magdalene (or Ursula), St. Lucy and St. Dominic.Allegedly inspired by another Holy Conversation by Giovanni Bellini
Giovanni Bellini
Giovanni Bellini was an Italian Renaissance painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters. His father was Jacopo Bellini, his brother was Gentile Bellini, and his brother-in-law was Andrea Mantegna. He is considered to have revolutionized Venetian painting, moving it...
in the church of San Giovanni e Paolo (now known only through copies), it feature however a more balance composition and a more sober architecture. Antonello adopted a pyramidal layout, enhanced by the accurate use of light.
The book with three golden balls hold by St. Nicholas alludes to the episode in which he gifted them to three girls to be used as dowry.