the Feast of the gods
One painting of Bellini's that shows that he is an ideal Renaissance man is The Feast of the Gods. This painting was started in 1514 and finished in around 1529. It shows the Renaissance ideal of Classicism because the subject of the picture is Roman gods and goddesses. It is based on a story, The Feasts, by the Roman poet Ovid. The painting shows a banquet given by Bacchus, the God of wine. The gods Jupiter, Mercury, and Apollo, as well as the goddesses Ceres and Persephone, are included in the picture. Bellini chose to portray the gods as everyday people having a picnic. This personal choice to interpret a classical subject in his own way demonstrates the Renaissance ideal of individualism. The painting also shows realism because it was created with perspective, shading, coloring, fine details, texture, and proportion. These techniques are evident because when you see the painting, it looks as if you are looking at a photograph taken of a group of people on a picnic.