Why it matters
Saint Mark preaches to a crowd in an exotic Alexandria, with about a hundred onlookers in caftans, turbans and veils. Gentile Bellini began the enormous canvas in 1504; after his death his brother Giovanni completed it.
Did you know?
- It covers 26 square metres.
- It was made for the Scuola Grande di San Marco in Venice.
- Gentile drew on what he had seen during his trip to Constantinople in 1479–1480.
Based on the Wikipedia article Saint Mark Preaching in Alexandria (CC BY-SA 4.0).
