Born in Isola di Carturo and adopted by the humanist Niccolò Bellini, Andrea Mantegna was apprenticed in Padua, absorbing classical antiquity’s ideals alongside his study of perspective. His... View More

Born in Isola di Carturo and adopted by the humanist Niccolò Bellini, Andrea Mantegna was apprenticed in Padua, absorbing classical antiquity’s ideals alongside his study of perspective. His early frescoes in the Ovetari Chapel showcase bold illusionism and sculptural figures recalling Roman reliefs.

Called to Mantua in 1460 by the Gonzaga court, Mantegna transformed the Palazzo Ducale’s camera picta with trompe-l’œil oculi, putti, and mythological narratives—a pioneering integration of painting and architecture. His mastery of foreshortening is epitomized by The Lamentation over the Dead Christ, where dramatic perspective intensifies emotional impact.

Mantegna’s engravings disseminated his innovations across Europe, influencing artists from Leonardo da Vinci to Dürer. His fusion of classical form, scientific perspective, and emotional restraint establishes him as a cornerstone of the Italian Renaissance.