In a New Light: Giovanni Bellini's St. Francis in the Desert

By Charlotte Hale and Susannah Rutherglen

Giovanni Bellini's St. Francis in the Desert (c. 1476-78) is a masterpiece of Venetian Renaissance art that has inspired generations of visitors to The Frick Collection. This monumental panel painting portrays the beloved Christian saint alone in a mountainous wilderness, stepping forward from his simple shelter into a golden light that seems to transfigure him spiritually. For centuries, viewers have puzzled over the work's meaning; until recently, however, the artist's practical conception and realization of this extraordinary vision have remained largely unexplored. In a New Light presents the collective findings of an unprecedented technical examination of St. Francis in the Desert . The recent discoveries provide a "glimpse over Bellini's shoulder" and open new avenues of research into Venetian Renaissance painting and its cultural and religious context. A richly illustrated monograph of a single picture, In a New Light comprises essays by leading experts in the fields of paintings conservation, Venetian art, the history of collecting, and Franciscan thought.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1907804390
• ISBN13: 9781907804397
• Release Date: March 2015
• Publisher: Giles
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 3.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 9.8" x 11.3"