Bellini and Mantegna Works Converge in Rimini Exhibition

The city of Rimini, Italy, will host an exhibition pairing Giovanni Bellini’s recently restored ‘Pietà’ with Andrea Mantegna’s ‘San Sebastiano’ from July 18 to January 10. The exhibition, titled ‘Il codice della Passione.

Bellini e Mantegna allo specchio’, aims to highlight the artistic dialogue between the two Renaissance masters. The Bellini ‘Pietà’ underwent restoration by the Venetian Heritage Foundation after a stay at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York.

Conservators preserved the work’s historical wear while enhancing its original colors and light. The exhibition will also display a rare private collection item, a shield bearing the initials and crest of Roberto Malatesta, a 15th-century lord of Rimini, potentially identifying him as the original patron of the Bellini painting.

Researchers believe the shield originated from a now-lost Malatesta palace. The show intends to explore the familial and artistic connections between Bellini and Mantegna, while also acknowledging their distinct styles.