Venice Sebastiano del Piombo

the judgment of solomon, 1508-10, attributed sebastiano.

sebastiano del piombo born in venice, though there no certainty background. birthdate extrapolated vasari s statement 62 @ death in 1547. first known musician , singer may suggest upper-middle class background; extent playing on lute , other instruments professional unclear. contemporary raphael, career marked ability on both other artists , patrons. began train painter @ relatively late age, 18 or 20, around 1503-05, becoming pupil of giovanni bellini , afterwards of giorgione, both of influence apparent in works; vasari s mention of relationship rather vague: si acconciò con giorgione .

no signed or firmly documented works survive period painting in venice, , many attributions disputed. other artists, of sebastiano s works have long been confused giorgione s. titian, may have completed work left unfinished @ giorgione s death in 1510; marcantonio michiel says finished 3 philosophers. earliest significant work attributed him portrait of girl in budapest, of 1505.

organ-shutters of san bartolomeo, venice, displayed outside pair @ centre.

he assigned unfinished , reworked judgement of solomon @ kingston lacy. dramatic , imposing picture, 1 of masterpieces of venetian narrative painting , long attributed giorgione; may have been abandoned 1508, though estimated dates vary in period 1505-1510. after extensive restoration in 1980s, removing later overpainting, painting left traces of 3 different compositions visible; still more can seen infra-red reflectography. still on 2 x 3 metres, seems have been larger, 40 cm lost along left edge. there 2 versions of elaborate architectural background, recurrent interest of sebastiano s venetian period. last setting in basilica, may reflect more learned picture intended building holding courts of justice. figure @ front of executioner, left without clothes or baby, drawn classical sculpture.

four standing figures of saints in niches on organ-shutters of san bartolomeo, venice, in gallerie dell accademia in venice, date c. 1508-09, , giorgionesque , pair on insides. painted @ same time giorgione s frescos fondaco dei tedeschi (now lost) church, german s church in venice, , @ time held albrecht dürer s madonna of rose-garlands of 1506. outside pair of shutters show sebastiano had learnt bellini. technique has developed earlier smooth surface application of paint in heavy brushstrokes , , figure of saint sebastian shows awareness of classical sculpture.

the main altarpiece san giovanni crisostomo, venice of 1510-11 shows patron saint, saint john chrysostom reading aloud @ desk, mary magdalene looking out @ viewer, , 2 other female , 3 male saints. organ-shutters church painted. style shows developments towards new fullness of form , breadth of movement may have been influenced florentine painter fra bartolommeo, in venice in 1508. aspects of composition innovative, , later copied venetian painters, including titian.