Marco Basaiti
Marco Basaiti (c. 1470 – 1530) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance who worked mainly in Venice and was a contemporary of Giovanni Bellini and Cima da Conegliano.
)[2][3] There is little documentation on Marco Basaiti besides his painting signatures and a guild's ledger of 1530 that records him as a painter of figures.
[2][4] Due to this lack of documentation, not much is known about Basaiti's life, except what scholars can learn about the artist through his art.
Specifically, it has been noted that after Albrecht Dürer’s stay in Venice, Basaiti’s style shifted somewhat towards more complex and dramatic landscapes with less of an emphasis on the figures in the painting.
[2] The latter is thought to be a copy of a painting by Cima da Conegliano which presents yet one more important artistic influence in Marco Basaiti’s life.
For the most part Basaiti focused on religious themes rarely delving into mythological or historical topics.
Furthermore, in accordance with the style of his proposed masters, Basaiti’s paintings often feature brightly colored clothing and cool skin tones.
[2] As Basaiti continued to mix the styles of Alvise and Bellini his paintings become comparable to Cima da Conegliano.
It was a prosperous decade for Basaiti and included several large commissions such as the high altarpiece at Sant'Andrea della Certosa, the Call of the Sons of Zebedee.
[4] Unlike the portraits which up until now had been his main artistic endeavors, the Calling of the Sons of Zebedee is a narrative painting which requires more complex composition, and features a detailed and expansive landscape.
As seen in the Resurrected Christ and the Blessed Redeemer, while many aspects of Basaiti’s former success remain, the painting features only one main figure.
[4] This gradual shift towards softer lines and an emphasis on natural lighting was the popular style developing during this era.
One exception to this trend is the painting The Lamentation which once again demonstrates Basaiti's ability to compose narrative scenes.
