A Closer Look: Episode 4 - Bellini’s Leonardo Loredan

In this episode of A Closer Look, Limelight magazine's publisher Robert Veel presents Giovanni Bellini's portrait of Doge Leonardo Loredan.

A simultaneously knowable and enigmatic work, it shows a man at the height of his power, with careful naturalistic detail. Bellini's portrait also demonstrates the bower-bird aesthetics of Renaissance Venice, this mighty state's exceptionalism, and the painterly revolutions in technique and medium that were introduced in Bellini's lifetime.

Bellini’s portrait is a favourite in the National Gallery, London, and there’s a wonderful detailed image of it here.

robert veel

Robert Veel is a director of Limelight Arts Travel, the co-publisher of Limelight magazine and a well known cultural tour leader who has designed and led over 100 tours. For a number of years he was a lecturer in linguistics at the University of Sydney, and he has a deep interest in the history, art and culture of Italy.

A dedicated Venetianist, Robert now spends part of every year in La Serenissima.