official portraits of the Doges. During his long life he
saw eleven reigns, and during four he held the State appointment.
Besides the official, he painted private portraits of the Doges, and
that of Doge Loredano, in the National Gallery, is one of the most
perfect presentments of the quattrocento. This portrait, painted by one
old man of another, shows no weakening in touch or characterisation. It
is as brilliant and vigorous as it is direct and simple. The face is
quiet and unexaggerated; there is no unnatural fire and feeling, but an
air of accustomed dignity and thought, while the technique has all the
perfection of the painter's prime.

In 1516 Giovanni was buried in the Church of SS. Giovanni and Paolo, by
the side of his brother Gentile. To the last he was popular and famous,
overwhelmed with attentions from the most distinguished personages of
the city. Though he had begun life when art showed such a different
aspect, he was by nature so imbued with that temperament, which at the
time of his death was beginning to assert itself in the younger school,
that he was able to assimilate a really astonishing share of the new
manner. He is guided by feeling more than by intellect. All the time he
is working out problems, he is dominated by the emotion of his subject,
but his emotion, his pathos, are invariably tempered and restrained by
the calm moderation of the quattrocento. The golden mean still has
command of Bellini, and never allows his feelings, however poignant,
to degenerate into sentimentality or violence.

PRINCIPAL WORKS

Bergamo. Lochis: Madonna (E.).
Morelli: Two Madonnas.
Berlin. Pieta (L.); Dead Christ.
Florence. Uffizi: Allegory; The Souls in Paradise (L.).
London. Portrait of Doge (L.); Madonna (L.); Agony in Garden (E.);
Salvator Mundi (E.).
Milan. Brera: Pieta (E.); Madonna; Madonna, 1510.
Mond Collection. Dead Christ; Madonna (E.).
Murano. S. Pietro: Madonna with Saints and Doge Barbarigo, 1488.
Naples. Sala Grande: Transfiguration.
Pesaro. S. Francesco: Altarpiece.
Rimini. Dead Christ (E.).
Venice. Academy: Three Madonnas; Five small allegorical paintings (L.);
Madonna with SS. Catherine and Magdalene; Madonna with
SS. Paul and George; Madonna with five Saints.
Museo Correr: Crucifixion (E.); Transfiguration (E.); Dead
Christ; Dead Christ with Angels.
Palazzo Ducale, Sala di