You are here:About>Education>Art History> Artists  A to Z> Artists From A to Z> Names Beginning With M> Artists in 60 Seconds: Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni degli Antonii)
About.comArt History
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
Newsletters & RSSEmail to a friendSubmit to Digg

Artist Profile: Antonello da Messina

From Shelley Esaak,
Your Guide to Art History.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Movement, Style, School or Type of Art:

Early Renaissance, Neapolitan School

Date and Place of Birth:

c. 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 (c. 1475)
    The Virgin Annunciated (c. 1476)

Date and Place of Death:

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

See more resources on Antonello da Messina by following the links at top right

Go to Artist Profiles: Names beginning with "M" or Artist Profiles: Main Index

 All Topics | Email Article | | |
Advertising Info | News & Events | Work at About | SiteMap | Reprints | HelpOur Story | Be a Guide
User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy©2008 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.