BELLINI, Gentile
(b. ca. 1429, Venezia, d. 1507, Venezia)

Portrait of a Doge

1460-62
Tempera on poplar panel, 53 x 43 cm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gentile Bellini was the most important portraitist in Venice until the 1490s. Five portraits of doges by him survived. Between about 1460 and 1500 he was charged with creating the official portrait of each of the doges, from Pasquale Malipiero (1392-1462) to Leonardo Loredan (1436-1521)

The present portrait, the sitter of which can be identified as Pasquale Malipiero, belongs to Gentile's early works. Pasquale Malipiero was elected doge in 1457, at the age of sixty-five, and held the office until his death. It is assumed that the portrait was produced during his reign, about 1460.