Thursday, August 6, 2026

Transfiguration Art Series: Bellini


  

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration.  One can find the traditional Mass propers at Usus Antiquior here.

The image above is Bellinis 15th century Transfiguration of Christ.  It is oil on wood panel, measures 42.5  inches by 59.8 inches, and is found in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples, Italy.  (This later version is not to be confused with an earlier version by Bellini that is housed in the Museo Correr, Venice, Italy,)

An interesting aspect of this artwork is that researchers have discovered that Bellini used a stibnite-based pigment.   Stibnite is a rare antimony mineral.  He used it to suggest the shimmering radiance of the gold mosaics found in ancient Byzantine churches.  While stibnite is a dark metallic gray, grinding and blending it into the highlights and shadows of white paint make the result luminous.

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