Dead Christ Supported by Angels 1474

Giovanni Bellini painted this image of the Dead Christ Supported by Angels in oil on panel sometime in the late fifteenth century. It captures the grief of Christ's death but also the hope of his promised resurrection. Religious imagery like this wasn't just about personal devotion. In Italy at this time, the Church played a huge role in shaping society. Art served the important public role of reinforcing religious values, and also legitimizing the power of the Church. Bellini's painting participates in this culture. Yet, in its emotional intensity, it also seems to hint at a more personal kind of faith. How might the painting challenge some of the conventions for religious imagery in art? Art historians look at the religious and social context of a work like this, examining sermons, the writings of religious thinkers, and other artworks to get a sense of the complex interplay between faith, society, and artistic expression.