Leonardo Bellini - Commission of Doge Cristoforo Moro to Domenico Diedo as Procurator of San Marco, 1464

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Leonardo Bellini (Venice, about 1443 - 1490)

Commission of Doge Cristoforo Moro to Domenico Diedo as Procurator of San Marco [Capitolare di Domenico Diedo], 1464

Illumination: paint, gold paint, and gold leaf on vellum; text: ink on vellum, 28.5 x 20.5 x 2 cm (11 1/4 x 8 1/16 x 13/16 in.)

Long Gallery

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Commentary

Putti holding a garland with the Diedo family arms, floral border, and foliate initials 'N' and 'I'.

Leonardo Bellini revitalized the illumination of Venetian books in the mid-fifteenth century, by introducing decorative elements from contemporary manuscripts from Ferrara, such as rich borders of blue and pink flowers, gold-leaf circles, filigree, putti and animals in medallions. Here, the delicately colored border marks the start of the main text, and the two enlarged initials highlight the different sections within it. Leonardo painted for the workshop of his family, the influential Bellini artists, who introduced the Renaissance style to Venetian painting in the second half of the 1400s. This commissione was made for Domenico Diedo. It records his solemn oath (giuramento) and the statutes (capitolare) of his post as Procurator of St. Mark's Basilica. The office was lifelong, and therefore the most important after the Dogeship.

Source: Anne-Marie Eze, Illuminating the Serenissima: Books of the Republic of Venice, special exhibition on view in the museum's Long Gallery, May 3 through June 19, 2011.