BELLINI, Leonardo
(active 1443-1490 in Venice)

Ducal Oath

1450s
Manuscript (Cod. Lat. X. 190)
Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice

In the second half of the fifteenth century, Leonardo Bellini, the first of a celebrated dynasty of artists, was dominant in Venice. Among other works, the penetrating portrait of Doge Francesco Foscari is credited to him in the copy of the ducal oath by Antonio Venier. Bellini showed reluctance to share fully in the humanistic language in which, on the other hand, other great illuminators like Girolamo da Cremona and Franco de' Russi moved freely.

The picture shows folio 6 of the manuscript with a portrait of Doge Francesco Foscari.