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Artists in 60 Seconds: Antonello da Messina

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Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Used with permission

Antonello da Messina (Italian, Sicilian, ca. 1430-1479). Portrait of a Man (ca. 1470). Oil on panel. 10 5/8 x 8 1/8 in. (27 x 20.6 cm)

© The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Movement, Style, School or Type of Art:

Early Renaissance, Neapolitan School

Date and Place of Birth:

ca. 1430, Messina, Sicily

Life:

The son of a stonemason, Antonello trained in Naples. No one knows for certain whether he picked up Netherlandish influences there (from his teacher) or actually travelled to the Netherlands, but - the key point is Antonello is credited with introducing oil painting to the Italian Renaissance. Better still, he took the technique to Venice, on a trip, and the Venetians worked wonders with it. He himself was a gifted portraitist, and inspired a new style among his fellow Italian artists.

Important Works:

  • San Cassiano Altar, 1475-76
  • Portrait of a Man, ca. 1475
  • The Virgin Annunciated, ca. 1476

Date and Place of Death:

At some point between February 14-25, 1479, Messina, Sicily

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