Peter Humfrey Publishes New Monograph on Giovanni Bellini

Marsilio Editori has released a new volume on Giovanni Bellini by Peter Humfrey, professor emeritus at the University of St Andrews and co-author of the 2019 catalogue raisonné of the artist. Titled "Giovanni Bellini: An Introduction," the book aims to be a comprehensive yet accessible monograph. Its seven chapters trace Bellini's biography and career, with thematic boxes on topics like the half-length Madonna and Venetian scuole. The volume features elegant design and numerous illustrations, including the Announcing Angel from the Polyptych of San Vincenzo Ferrer. In an interview, Humfrey discusses his target audience—intelligent non-specialist readers—and the balance between scientific rigor and divulgation. He addresses Bellini's relationship with younger artists like Giorgione and Titian, arguing that Bellini's late works evolved naturally rather than merely responding to their success. The book also explores Bellini's dialogue with architecture, sculpture, and the physical context of his altarpieces. Humfrey takes a cautious approach to symbolic interpretation of natural details, emphasizing creative freedom. On Bellini and the Orient, he notes the mix of fear and fascination toward the Islamic world reflected in paintings. The final chapter covers Bellini's posthumous reputation: forgotten after 1516 but revived from the 19th century onward, his stature undiminished by later reevaluations of Masaccio and Piero della Francesca.