Jacopo Bellini

Born in Venice, Jacopo (1400–70) was a pupil of Gentile da Fabriano, the master of International Gothic, and the father of Giovanni and Gentile, father-in-law of Mantegna, all of whom he taught and were influenced by his beautiful drawings from nature (his best works survive in two sketch books, in the British Museum and Louvre). Most of his greatest paintings have sadly been lost, or ended up elsewhere.

As a newly trained artist, Jacopo spent time in Florence and encountered all the great works of the early Renaissance by the likes of Masaccio and Brunelleschi. He returned to Venice in 1424 and ran his workshop until he died.

In Venice his best works are his natural and lifelike Madonnas (Accademia).